This study seeks to look into the effects of oligofructose supplementation on appetite, energy intake, and body weight and body composition in overweight subjects. Compared to a placebo product (cellulose) oligofructose is hypothesised to suppress hunger and thereby reduce food intake moderately leading to a decrease in body weight.
Appetite regulation plays an important part in energy balance. Suppressing appetite by manipulating the diet is a safe way of reducing energy intake and body weight compared to drug therapy and obesity surgery. How various nutrients affect appetite is not fully understood. Non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC) may affect appetite differently due to differences in physio-chemical properties. This project will look into how two different NDC affect appetite and energy intake in overweight individuals in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled parallel study. The NDC under investigation are oligofructose and cellulose, both natural compounds of plant origin. The former is broken down (fermented) in the large bowel by friendly bacteria producing various compounds that may affect appetite and the metabolism of the host. Volunteers will consume one of the two NDC for eight weeks (including a two week run-in period). Appetite study session, functional MRI (fMRI) and MRI body fat scans will be conducted before and after the supplementation with NDC (or during the supplementation in the case of fMRI). Using fMRI the effect of the NDC supplementation on central appetite regulating centres will be investigated. Appetite questionnaires and dietary records will completed under free-living conditions at baseline and during the supplementation to explore the effect on subjective appetite feelings and energy intake, respectively. It is hoped that this project will enhance the understanding of how NDC affect appetite and provide further information on how fermentation of NDC, gut hormone release, body composition, and appetite regulation are linked.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
28
Participants will be asked to consume 30g of oligofructose daily for six weeks after a 2-week run-in.
Participants will be asked to consume 3 doses (a total of 30g dietary fibres) of the placebo product daily for six weeks after a 2-week run-in
Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital
London, United Kingdom
Subjective Appetite Ratings in Hunger Compared to Baseline
Hunger was assessed by visual analogue scales (Each scale is 10cm in length with words anchored at each end, expressing the most positive (Minimum score = 0 cm and means no hunger) and the most negative rating (Maximum score = 10 cm and means very hungry). Compared to baseline after treatment at 56 days
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Subjective Appetite Ratings in Fullness Compared to Baseline
Fullness are assessed by visual analogue scale, 10 cm in length with words anchored at each end, expressing the most positive (feel full: maximum Score=10cm) and the most negative rating (feeling empty: Minimum Score = 0cm), values at baseline and after treatments at 56 days
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Body Weight
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Energy Intake
Energy intake was assessed by 7-days food diary at baseline and last week of treatment, diaries were analysed by Dietplan6 software. The values in the table represent the Energy intake as measured over the whole week (as opposed to reporting the Energy intake per day based on the 7 day data).
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Gut Hormone PYY
Total PYY concentrations were quantified using specific and sensitive in-house radio-immunoassays as previously described.
Time frame: baseline (Day 0) and post-supplementation (Day 56)
Body Composition
Body composition assessed by BMI
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Imaging of Total Adipose Tissue
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Total adipose tissue was assessed by FMRI at baseline and after treatment period
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Plasma Short-chain Fatty Acids Concentrations After Treatment
Short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) concentrations assessed from plasma at 56 days at 450min timepoint with gas chromatography
Time frame: Baseline, 56 days
Inflammatory Markers
No data were collected for this Outcome Measure
Time frame: baseline (Day 0) and post-supplementation (Day 56)
Glycemic Response
Glucose was analyzed in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hammer-smith Hospital, London using an Abbott Architect ci8200 analyzer(Abbott Diagnostics, Maidenhead, UK).
Time frame: baseline (Day 0) and post-supplementation (Day 56)
Serum Insulin
Plasma insulin concentrations were assayed using RIA kits (Millipore, MO).
Time frame: baseline (Day 0) and post-supplementation (Day 56)
Breath Hydrogen Levels
breath hydrogen were obtained from volunteers throughout the study session.
Time frame: baseline (Day 0) and post-supplementation (Day 56)