Effect of one week of fibre supplementation on hunger and satiety ratings and energy intake

The effect of one week of supplementation with a water-soluble fibre (guar gum) was studied in obese women who had lost weight. In study 1 (N = 17; mean +/- SEM: age 38.5 +/- 2.3 yrs; weight 86.8 +/- 2.3 kg; BMI 32.2 +/- 0.9 kg.m(-2)) energy intake and hunger and satiety scores were assessed under free-living conditions. In study 2 (N = 14; age 44.5 +/- 1.8 yrs; weight 78.8 +/- 3.1 kg; BMI 29.0 +/- 0.9 kg.m(-2)) energy intake was fixed at 6 MJ.day(-1) (their normal energy intake at that time) or 4 MJ.day(-1) (low energy intake). In both studies, the effect of one week of fibre supplementation (40 g in study 1 and 20 g in study 2) was compared with no supplementation. In study 1, mean energy intake decreased significantly from 6.7 +/- 0.4 MJ to 5.4 +/- 0.2 MJ daily after fibre supplementation, while hunger and satiety scores did not change. At a low energy intake level of 4 MJ given in study 2, hunger scores were significantly decreased after fibre supplementation. No changes were seen in hunger and satiety scores during fibre supplementation at 6 MJ. The reduction in energy intake by soluble fibre under free living conditions and the hunger-reducing effect of fibre at the low energy intake level (4 MJ) suggests that fibre may be useful in the treatment of obesity, by facilitating compliance to low energy intake. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.