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Acute effects of various fast-food meals on vascular function and cardiovascular disease risk markers: the Hamburg Burger Trial^1,2,3

¹ From the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (TKR, KR, ES, JT-A, RHB, and RM) and the Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Heart Center (TKR), University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, and the Institute of Pharmacy, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany (UR)

Background: High-fat meals have negative effects on endothelial function, but vitamin-rich side orders may prevent these negative effects.

Objective: The acute effects of conventional and alternative fast-food meals on vascular function and various cardiovascular biomarkers were investigated.

Design: In a crossover study, flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilatation (FMD) and cardiovascular disease risk markers were investigated in 24 healthy volunteers before and 2 and 4 h after 3 fast-food meals: a conventional beef burger with French fries, ketchup, and carbonated lemon-flavored soda (meal 1); a vegetarian burger with French fries, ketchup, and carbonated lemon-flavored soda (meal 2); and a vegetarian burger with salad, fruit, yogurt, and orange juice (meal 3).

Results: FMD decreased after all 3 fast-food meals: the values were 9.7 ± 2.5%, 7.5 ± 3.5%, and 6.2 ± 3.3% for meal 1; 9.2 ± 3.4%, 7.1 ± 3.4%, and 6.3 ± 4.0% for meal 2; and 8.8 ± 3.3%, 6.2 ± 4.0%, and 6.8 ± 4.3% for meal 3 at baseline, 2 h, and 4 h, respectively. There were significant intraindividual differences for time (P < 0.001) but not for type of meal (P = 0.677). A postprandial increase in baseline diameter of the brachial artery was significant for time (P < 0.001) but not for type of meal (P = 0.148).

Conclusions: Against common expectations, a conventional beef burger meal and presumably healthier alternatives with or without vitamin-rich side orders did not differ significantly in their acute effects on vascular reactivity. The frequently reported postprandial decline in FMD may be attributed in part to a postprandial increase in baseline arterial diameter.

Key Words: Fast food • healthy volunteers • endothelial function • ratio of L-arginine to asymmetric dimethylarginine • ADMA • oxidative stress