Effects of intense sweeteners on hunger, food intake, and body weight: a review

Article Abstract:

There have been many conflicting reports about the effects of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharin, on appetite, food intake and body weight. This article reviews the available scientific literature on aspartame in an attempt to clarify this issue. Several reports in the media have indicated that artificial sweeteners may increase hunger and food intake, and as a result may cause weight gain. However, the majority of scientific studies indicate that aspartame does not increase hunger or appetite. In the few studies that reported an increase in hunger after beverages containing aspartame were consumed, there was no evidence that food intake and body weight were affected, because food intake and body weight were not measured. Studies that measured food intake following consumption of aspartame-sweetened foods showed that aspartame either decreased food intake or had no effect on food intake. No studies have provided scientific evidence that aspartame increases food intake. Also, there is no evidence to support the claim that eating foods or consuming beverages with intense sweeteners increases food intake and weight gain in people who are dieting. In the future, more studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners on eating patterns and weight gain. Such studies are difficult to perform because patients may not be compliant with the diets, and it is difficult to measure the actual intake of the test substance. Based on the literature reviewed, it is concluded that intense sweeteners have never been shown to cause weight gain. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Physiological aspects, Aspartame, Synthetic sweeteners, Nonnutritive sweeteners

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Caloric compensation for lunches varying in fat and carbohydrate content by humans in a residential laboratory

Article Abstract:

Dietary fat comprises approximately 35 percent of the total daily caloric intake for most Americans. Excessive fat intake has been associated with heart disease, cancer and obesity. Nutritional experts recommend a total daily caloric intake that includes 30 percent fat. Reduced fat intake may be accomplished by decreasing the intake of foods high in fat content or by substituting a low-calorie, nonfat foods. Two groups of three subjects participated in a study to determine what effect the nutrient and caloric content of a required lunch meal would have on subsequent food intake. The lunches contained either 431 or 844 calories. The difference in the caloric content of the two lunches was created by altering the amounts of fat and carbohydrate. Four different lunches containing either high fat, high carbohydrate, low fat, or low carbohydrate were served for three consecutive days. Subjects were allowed to control their own pattern of food intake. There were no significant differences in total daily caloric intake among the four groups. These findings indicate that the subjects compensated for the caloric content of a lunch regardless of the nutrient content. The results suggest that substitution of low-calorie foods may not be sufficient for reducing total daily caloric intake, because compensatory changes in intake of higher caloric foods are likely to occur. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Measurement, Diet, Food consumption, Low-calorie diet, Low calorie diet, Low-carbohydrate diet, Low carbohydrate diet, High-carbohydrate diet, High carbohydrate diet

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Effects of age on sensory-specific satiety

Article Abstract:

Smell and taste play an important role in the diet. People choose foods that smell and taste good to them. Elderly people rate food taste and flavor perception as the most important factors when they are selecting foods, yet older people tend to have less variety in their diet. It has been reported that the ability to smell decreases with aging, and that reduced ability to taste and smell leads to a decrease in food intake in the elderly. One study reported that adding flavor to food increases the intake of nutrient-rich foods in elderly people. This article describes the results of a study designed to evaluate the effects of age on sensory-specific satiety. The study included 24 adolescents (age 12 to 15), 24 young adults (age 22 to 35), 24 older adults (age 45 to 60) and 24 elderly adults (age 65 to 82). Each subject was presented with five different foods and was asked to rate the pleasantness of the smell and their desire to eat the food. This was done before and after each subject had eaten 300 grams of yogurt. When compared with the elderly subjects, the adolescents and young adults showed a decreased desire to continuing eating more of the same food and showed a greater desired to try one of the other foods. The results of this study indicate that sensory-specific satiety is reduced in elderly people. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Aged, Elderly, Testing, Food, Food and nutrition, Sensory evaluation, Olfactometry, Senses and sensation, Senses

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