Acute effects of various fast-food meals on vascular function and cardiovascular disease risk markers: the Hamburg Burger Trial.

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).

High-throughput liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric determination of arginine and dimethylated arginine derivatives in human and mouse plasma.

The balance between nitric oxide (NO) and vasoconstrictors like endothelin is essential for vascular tone and endothelial function. L-Arginine is converted to NO and L-citrulline by NO synthase (NOS). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) are endogenous inhibitors of NO formation.