The effects of a high-carbohydrate, high-protein or balanced lunch upon later food intake and hunger ratings

This study compared the satiating properties of three liquid lunches (450 kcal each), one dominant in protein (71.5% of energy), a second in carbohydrates (99% of energy) and a third containing an equal mixture of the first two formulations, in a within-subjects, repeated measures design. At an ad libitum dinner meal, 12 women consumed 31% more kilocalories in the high-carbohydrate lunch condition than in the high-protein lunch condition and 20% more kilocalories than in the mixture lunch condition. Similar results emerged for the amounts of protein and fat ingested at dinner. Subjects also reported significantly greater pre-dinner hunger and excitement about eating in the carbohydrate: lunch condition than in the protein lunch condition. Greater enjoyment of dinner was also found after the carbohydrate lunch than after the mixture and protein lunches. (C) 1999 Academic Press.