Effect of Oligofructose on Appetite in Overweight Subjects

Obesity Clinical Trial

Official title: Effect of Oligofructose on Appetite, Gut Hormones and Body Composition in Healthy Overweight Subjects

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Clinical Trial Description

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. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Appetite Regulation
• Obesity
• Overweight

• NCT number: NCT00912197
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Imperial College London
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 2009
• Completion date: August 2011