The Effect of Functional Lipids on Appetite Regulation in Man

Background Obesity is a major health problem worldwide, and it is a risk factor for several chronic disorders. Even small changes in energy intake, leading to a positive balance may lead to weight gain over time. Thus, slight modifications in food intake, such as the inclusion of foods that effect energy balance, may prevent weight gain and even facilitate weight loss. Replacing dietary fat with low-calorie fat (LCF), such as modified triglycerides with medium and long chained PUFA.may be an efficient way to reduce body fat.

Bray et al. (2002) has shown a sustained weight loss of ~6 kg over a 9 month period where one-third of a fat-reduced diet (25% fat) was replaced by olestra. This weight loss can not solely be explained by the decreased caloric content of olestra. Thus, inhibition of appetite leading to lower food intake, may be a potential mechanism of the observed weight loss.

A reduced absorption of LCF leaves undigested fatty acids in the middle and lower intestine, which may generate increased feelings of satiety and decrease caloric intake due to regulating peptides and hormones such (CCK, GLP-1, etc.). In addition, intraduodenal fatty acids may also promote distension of the stomach and distension of the intestine, which are well-known gastrointestinal signals controlling mechanisms for food intake.

Taken together, in addition to the acute reduction in caloric intake, LCF may encourage a gastrointestinal hormone response promoting beneficial effects on appetite regulation and energy balance.

Aims To evaluate the short-term effects of LCF on