(The FASEB Journal. 2013;27:858.9)
Oat and Barley β-Glucans Induce Satiety and Reduce Energy Intake - a Study on Acute and Longer-term Effects
Mette Kristensen
Objective: We investigate the acute and longer-term effects of three different β-glucan preparations camouflaged in food matrices on appetite and food intake.
Methods: Fourteen participants completed this randomized crossover study with four 3-week periods with daily consumption of 3.3g of fibers (control (no fiber), mutant barley β-glucan, mother barley β-glucan and oat β-glucan of a similar molecular mass). Before and after each period (day 0 and 21) a 4-hour meal test was completed, during which appetite ratings were measured and ad libitum energy intake at the next meal was recorded.
Results: No significant difference in ad libitum food intake was seen on day 0 (p=0.14), however AUC for satiety and fullness both tended to differ between meals on day 0 (p=0.10 and p=0.08) with higher values for oat and mutant barley meals compared to control. Interestingly, the participants consumed less energy (~10%) after all fiber-rich meals compared to control (p<0.05) on day 21, despite no differences in AUC for satiety, fullness or hunger (p>0.50).
Conclusions: The difference in effect on appetite and food intake could be speculated to derive from differences in the fiber molecular block-structure seen for mutant barley, mother barley and oat and then in turn small differences in fermentation patterns.