Nonabsorbable fat (sucrose polyester) and the regulation of energy intake and body weight

A substantial number of people have difficulties in controlling their body weight and energy/fat intake. Fat substitutes may be helpful in solving these problems. We here report the first study on the longer-term effects of the nonabsorbable fat sucrose polyester (SPE) on energy intake in normal-weight subjects. We studied the longer-term (12 days) effects of the consumption of warm meals with normal dietary fat (5.0 MJ, 1,195 kcal) or meals in which 52 g of fat were replaced by the fat replacer SPE (3.1 MJ, 740 kcal) on spontaneous food intake (measured by dietary records), body weight, and gastrointestinal complaints in healthy volunteers in two studies. In the first-study the 48 subjects were unaware of the treatment, whereas in the second study the 47 subjects were informed of what they received. In both studies men and women consumed less energy per day during the SPE (11.2 MJ) compared with the fat treatment (12.7 MJ) (P values < 0.0001) for the whole la-day period. This was accompanied by equivalent changes in body weight. The percentage of energy from fat decreased from 43% during the fat treatment to 32% during the SPE treatment. During the SPE treatment, more gastrointestinal complaints and a higher frequency of defecation were reported. Information about the treatment did not affect the outcomes. It is concluded that the use of a fat replacer such as SPE helps in reducing fat and energy intake in normal-weight people.