RESUMEN
Binge eating is repeated episodes of eating large amounts of sweet and fatty food in short periods. Dietary fibers, including pectin, significantly reduce the subjective ratings of hunger, and the amount of food eaten. However, studies showing the effect of dietary fibers on satiety use juices or yoghurts with added dietary fiber, or a kissel-like food. Thus, there is a lack of data on the effect of dietary fibres on binge eating of palatable food. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of tansy pectin on anxiety and the binge eating of palatable food in mice. Material and methods. 64 mice weighing 33.3±0.6 g were divided into two groups. Binge eating was induced in forty mice of the first group by consumption of sunflower halva (SH) in addition to regular chow for 24 h once a week. The total energy intake and separately the consumption of regular chow (RC) and SH were monitored. Tansy pectin in the form of an aqueous solution was administered to the mice using a gastric feeding tube (50 mg/kg body weight) before the last presentation of SH. Blood was obtained by cardiac puncture at the end of the last 24 h SH access period. The concentration of insulin and ghrelin in plasma samples were determined by the enzyme immunoassay. In animals of the second group, 24 hours after the administration of pectin, the level of anxiety and depression of mice was assayed with an open field test, a light-dark box test, an elevated plus-maze test, and a forced swim test. Throughout the study, water was used as a negative control, and imipramine at a dose of 20 mg/kg was used as a positive control. Results. Mice treated with tansy pectin ate 2.6 fold less SH within 3 h and 1.4 fold less within 24 h after oral administration of tansy pectin compared to control (water administration). Consumption of RC did not differ within 3 or 24 h. The total energy intake was 1.9 fold lower within 3 h in mice treated with tansy pectin. Within 24 h after pectin oral administration the total energy intake did not differ from control. Insulin plasma level was 2.5 fold lower and ghrelin plasma concentration was 25% higher in the mice that received pectin compared to control, at the end of the 24 h SH access period. The administration of tansy pectin was found to decrease anxietyrelated behaviour in mice. Its administration significantly increased the time spent in the central sector of the open field apparatus by 87%, the time spent in the light area of the light-dark box by 31%, and the time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze by 22% compared with the control. Conclusion. Overall, tansy pectin reduced the binge eating of SH representing highly palatable, sweet, and fatty food. Reduced intake SH lead to a decrease in insulin concentration. Blood level of ghrelin was increased in mice treated with tansy pectin at the end of the sweet and fatty food presentation period. Tansy pectin reduced the level of anxiety in mice.
