Inulin may prevent the high-fat diet induced-obesity via suppressing endocannabinoid system in the prefrontal cortex in Wistar rats.

High-fat diets contribute to various metabolic disorders. Inulin supplementation has been shown to reduce appetite, lower food intake, and promote weight loss. Although there is evidence that the endocannabinoid system has metabolic effects in the prefrontal cortex, studies investigating the effects of inulin on the endocannabinoid system are limited. This study investigated the impact of inulin on obesity through the endocannabinoid system in the prefrontal cortex. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were fed one of four diets over 12 weeks. Findings indicated that a high-fat diet led to obesity, whereas inulin reduced food intake and supported weight loss. Consequently, inulin supplementation both prevented obesity and significantly decreased the expressions of Adrb3 and Adcy1, and anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol levels in the prefrontal cortex. Additionally, inulin lowered leptin in circulation and stimulated Trpv1. Thus, inulin may mitigate obesity development, possibly by modulating gene expressions linked to obesity in the prefrontal cortex via endocannabinoids.

Lentils based pasta affect satiation, satiety and food intake in healthy volunteers.

Plant-based diets represent a valid strategy to improve human health and increase food sustainability. The availability of legume-based products, a good source of proteins and fibers, could help consumers to promote healthy dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different legume-based pastas on energy intake and appetite in healthy volunteers. Four ad libitum (protocol 1) and iso-caloric pre-load meals (protocol 2) were tested using a randomized repeated measure design. The test meals consisted of lentils pasta (LP), chickpeas pasta (CP); durum wheat pasta (DWP) and gluten free pasta (GFP), served with tomato sauce. Protocol 1: the ad libitum lunch meal was consumed then EI registered. Protocol 2: subjective appetite was assessed by visual analogue scale before and after the pre-load meal for 2 h until an ad libitum buffet was served to assess EI. Twenty (age: 39.2 ± 8.41 years; BMI: 23.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2) and 40 (age: 42.6 ± 8.7 years; BMI: 23.8 ± 4.2 kg/m2) healthy subjects were respectively recruited for each protocol. ANCOVA analysis showed an overall effect of meals and sex on EI within meal and at the subsequent meal, resulting in a lower EI after LP compared to DWP (p < 0.05). Appetite sensations were significantly influenced solely after the pre-load meal, where repeated measures ANCOVA showed increased post-prandial satiety after LP and CP (p < 0.05) compared to DWP in females, whereas a reduction in desire to eat and higher fullness was found following LP compared to the other meals in both sexes (p < 0.05). Overall, lentil-based pasta seemed to acutely affect EI both within and at the subsequent meal, especially in females. Consumption of legume-based pasta might enhance legume intake by modulating appetite feelings and increasing food sustainability. However, further studies are needed to support these results in the long-term and considering different target populations.

Gut Hormones: Possible Mediators of Addictive Disorders?

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and drug dependence are major health and economic burdens to society. One of the major challenges to reducing this burden will be to develop more effective and better tolerated medications that target alternative mechanisms in the brain. While the dopamine system has been well characterized for mediating the reward value of drugs, there is evidence that the endocrine system also conveys signals to the same neural systems using gut hormones. SUMMARY: These gut hormones, produced in the stomach and intestine and that regulate food intake, have also been shown to control the use of other substances, such as alcohol and drugs of abuse. Examples of such hormones are ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1, which exert their effects on dopamine transmission in parts of the brain known to be involved in some of the core features of addiction, such as reward sensitivity. KEY MESSAGES: This raises the possibility that gut hormone systems may play a pivotal role in addictive disorders. This review will briefly outline emerging evidence that the ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1 hormones are contrasting mediators of alcohol and drug use and may present a promising alternative target for treatment intervention in addictive disorders.

Increasing particle size of oat flours decreases postprandial glycemia and increases appetite in healthy adults.

Consumption of oats is associated with lowered risks of type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, many oat-based products (e.g., breakfast cereals) use finely milled flours but are associated with health claims based on oats of larger particle sizes. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that increasing oat flour particle size will result in lower postprandial glycemia and appetite. Using a randomized-controlled, crossover design, 20 participants (10 males, 10 females; age: 25.3 ± 1.0 years; body mass index: 23.2 ± 0.6 kg/m2) consumed a serving of porridge made using 40 g of coarse (675.7 ± 19.6 µm), whole (443.3 ± 36.2 µm), fine (96.0 ± 2.1 µm), or a commercial (375.9 ± 14.8 µm) oat flour unmatched in available carbohydrate, protein, and dietary fiber content. After a 12-hour overnight fast, blood glucose, insulin, and appetite were measured at 15 to 30-minute intervals over 120 minutes posttreatment consumption. Coarse and whole flours led to lower blood glucose between 30 and 60 minutes (P < .02). Blood glucose area under the curve (AUC) was lower after coarse than fine and commercial oat flours (P < 0.03), and after whole than fine oat flour (P < .002). Both coarse and whole oat flours resulted in lower insulin AUC than finer flours (P < .05). Appetite AUC was lower after the commercial than coarse flour (P < .007). Controlling milling to produce coarser oat flour to add to common foods may have health benefits. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05291351).

Greater lactate accumulation does not alter peripheral concentrations of key appetite-regulating neuropeptides.

The potential mechanisms involved in lactate's role in exercise-induced appetite suppression requires further examination. We used sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized crossover design to explore lactate's role on neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentrations. Twelve adults (7 males; 24.2±3.4 kg‧m-2; 42.18±8.56 mL‧kg-1‧min-1) completed two identical high-intensity interval training sessions following ingestion of NaHCO3 (BICARB) or sodium chloride (PLACEBO) pre-exercise. Blood lactate, acylated ghrelin, NPY, AgRP, α-MSH, and appetite perceptions were measured pre-exercise, 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-min post-exercise. Free-living energy intake (electronic food diaries) was measured the day before, of, and after each experimental session. In BICARB, blood lactate was greater post-exercise (p<0.002, d>0.70) though acylated ghrelin was similar (p=0.075, =0.206) at all time-points post-exercise (p>0.034, d<0.22). NPY (p=0.006, >0.509) and AgRP (p<0.001, >0.488) had main effects of time increasing following exercise and returning to baseline, with no differences between sessions (NPY: p=0.0.192, =0.149; AgRP: p=0.422, =0.060). α-MSH had no main effect of time (p=0.573, =0.063) or session (p=0.269, =0.110). Appetite perceptions were similar during BICARB and PLACEBO (p=0.007, d=0.28) increasing in both sessions post-exercise (p<0.088, d>0.57). Energy intake had a main effect of day (p=0.025, =0.825), where the experimental session day was greater than the day before (p=0.010, d=0.59) with no other differences between days (p>0.260, d<0.38). The lower accumulation of lactate than our previous work did not generate exercise-induced appetite suppression as there were no differences in acylated ghrelin, appetite perceptions, or peripheral concentrations of neuropeptides.

Postprandial plasma aminoacidemia and indices of appetite regulation following pea-rice blend, pea isolate and whey protein ingestion in healthy young adults.

Plant-derived proteins are often deficient in essential amino acids and have lower rates of digestibility than animal-derived proteins. Blending different plant-derived proteins could compensate for these deficiencies and may augment postprandial aminoacidemia over single-source plant proteins. This study assessed plasma amino acids and appetite hormones, appetite sensations and ad libitum energy intake following ingestion of a pea-rice protein blend (BLEND), compared with pea-only (PEA) and whey (WHEY) protein. In a randomised, double-blind, crossover design, ten healthy adults (M n 4, F n 6; mean (sd) age 22 (sd 3) years; BMI 24 (sd 3) kg·m2) ingested 0·3 g·kg·body mass-1 of BLEND, PEA or WHEY. Arterialised venous blood samples and appetite ratings were obtained in the fasted state and over 240 min postprandially. Energy intake was measured via an ad libitum buffet-style test meal. Mean plasma essential amino acid incremental AUC was higher in WHEY, compared with PEA (P < 0·01; mean diff (95 % CI): 44 218 (15 806, 72 631) µmol·240 min·l-1) and BLEND (P < 0·01; 14 358 (16 031, 101 121) µmol·240 min·l-1), with no differences between PEA and BLEND (P = 0·67). Plasma ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide-1, appetite ratings and ad libitum energy intake responses did not differ between treatments (P > 0·05 for all). Ingestion of a pea-rice protein blend did not augment postprandial aminoacidemia above pea protein, perhaps attributable to marginal differences in essential amino acid composition. No between-treatment differences in appetite or energy intake responses were apparent, suggesting that the influence of protein ingestion on perceived appetite ratings and orexigenic hormonal responses may not be solely determined by postprandial plasma aminoacidemia.

Plant protein, fibre and physical activity solutions to address poor appetite and prevent undernutrition in older adults: study protocol for the APPETITE randomised controlled trial.

Reduced appetite with ageing is a key factor that may increase risk of undernutrition. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of innovative plant protein fibre (PPF) products within a personalised optimised diet (PD), a physical activity (PA) programme, and their combination on appetite, and other nutritional, functional and clinical outcomes in community-dwelling older adults in a multi-country randomised controlled intervention trial. One hundred and eighty community-dwelling adults (approximately sixty per trial centre in Germany, Ireland and Italy) aged 65 years and over will be recruited to participate in a 12-week, parallel-group, controlled trial. Participants will be randomised into one of four groups: 1, PD (incorporating two PPF products): 2, PA; 3, PD + PA; and 4, no intervention (control). The primary outcome is appetite measured by visual analogue scales and energy intake from an ad libitum test meal. Secondary outcomes include fasting and postprandial appetite-related gut hormones, Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire score, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, physical function and PA. In addition, self-efficacy, cognitive status, dietary restraint, depressive symptoms and compliance and acceptability of the intervention will be assessed. Metabolomic profiles, RMR, muscle motor unit properties and gut microbiome will also be assessed to explore potential underlying mechanisms. This multi-centre randomised controlled trial will advance knowledge on how PD (incorporating PPF products), PA and their combination influence appetite, nutritional status and related health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults and contribute to the prevention of undernutrition. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov Registry NCT05608707 (registered on 2 November 2022). Protocol Version: NCT05608707 Version 4 (registered on 29 September 2023).

The Satiating Effect of Extruded Plant Protein Compared with Native Plant and Meat Protein in a Ragú "Bolognaise" Meal: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.

Protein increases satiety by, among other things, increasing the content of certain amino acids in the blood. Plant proteins generally have a lower digestibility than meat proteins. The digestibility increases after extrusion; thereby, extrusion potentially also increases the satiating effect. We investigated subjective appetite and ad libitum energy intake (adlib_EI) following ragú "bolognaise" meals with three different protein sources. We hypothesized that the satiating effect of texturized vegetable proteins (TVP) was comparable to that of animal protein (Meat) and that TVPs would have a stronger satiating effect than non-texturized legume proteins (Green). Test meals were theoretically designed to be similar in weight, energy (kJ), macronutrients and fiber. The in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) and the amino acid composition were analyzed. A randomized, single-blinded, three-way, cross-over study including 25 healthy men was carried out. There were no significant differences between the three meals in terms of subjective appetite. The adlib_EI was significantly lower after the TVP meal (758 kJ) than after the Meat meal (957 kJ), with the Green meal in between (903 kJ). The IVPD was significantly higher in the Meat meal (30.72%) than in the Green meal (20.17%), with the TVP meal in between (21.05%). In conclusion, the TVP meal had a higher long-term satiating effect than a similar meal with meat.

Dificultades alimentarias en la infancia: una revisión narrativa / Feeding difficulties in childhood: A narrative review

Se estima que entre el 25 % y el 40 % de los niños sanos presentan algún síntoma de dificultad alimentaria (DA) durante su crecimiento y desarrollo, y muchas veces no son adecuadamente diagnosticadas. El propósito de este trabajo consistió en realizar una revisión narrativa que reuniera la información disponible sobre las dificultades alimentarias. Se desarrollaron algoritmos de evaluación y abordaje a partir de la evidencia en la literatura. La mayoría de los problemas de alimentación en los niños pequeños (selectividad alimentaria, falta de apetito, miedo a la alimentación) a menudo coexisten y es necesario evaluar el riesgo clínico para planificar una intervención individualizada. Contar con definiciones estandarizadas y terminología común para abordar estas dificultades de manera adecuada y multidisciplinaria es uno de los caminos para optimizar su tratamiento. Involucrar a los diferentes profesionales de la salud y a los padres es fundamental para abordar las dificultades alimentarias.

It has been estimated that between 25% and 40% of healthy children show symptoms of feeding difficulties (FDs) during their growth and development; many times, these are not adequately diagnosed. The objective of this study was to conduct a narrative review that collected the available information on fee ding difficulties. Assessment and management algorithms were developed based on the bibliographic evidence. Most feeding problems in young children (feeding selectivity, loss of appetite, fear of feeding) are often con current, and a clinical risk assessment is necessary to plan an individualized intervention. Having standardized definitions and common terms to address these difficulties in an appropriate and multidisciplinary manner is one of the ways to optimize their treatment. The involvement of different health care providers and parents is critical to address feeding difficulties.

Physiologically relevant lactate accumulation from exercise or peripheral injection does not alter central or peripheral appetite signaling in mice.

Lactate has been implicated in exercise-induced appetite suppression though little work has explored the mechanisms underpinning its role. Recent work suggests lactate accumulation via exercise and intracerebroventricular injection can alter central appetite regulating pathways, though a supraphysiological dose of lactate was administered centrally and there was no assessment of peripheral appetite markers. Therefore, we examined how physiologically relevant lactate accumulation via exercise or intraperitoneal injection altered central and peripheral appetite signaling pathways and whether the lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamate could blunt any exercise effect. Forty 10-week-old C57BL/6 J male mice (n = 10/group) were assigned to either: 1) sedentary (SED + SAL; saline); 2) exercise (EX+SAL; saline); 3) exercise with oxamate (EX+OX; 750 mg‧kg-1 body mass); or 4) lactate (SED + LAC; 1.0 g‧kg-1 body mass). Blood, stomach, and hypothalamus samples were collected ∼2 h post-exercise/injection. Though oxamate blunted exercise-induced lactate accumulation compared to the EX+SAL condition (P = 0.044, d = 0.73), there were no differences in circulating acylated ghrelin or stomach ghrelin O-acyltransferase content between groups (P > 0.213, ηp2<0.125). There were also no differences in hypothalamic content for neuropeptide Y, proopiomelanocortin, agouti-related peptide, and alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (P > 0.150, ηp2<0.170). Exercise did increase phosphorylated-total signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) compared to EX+OX (p = 0.065, d = 1.23) but there were no differences in other markers of lactate signaling: phosphorylated-total adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase, and protein kinase b (P > 0.121, ηp2<0.160). Our results suggest that lactate accumulation due to exercise or peripheral injection does not alter central or peripheral appetite signaling when measured 2 h post-exercise/injection, though pSTAT3 was blunted with oxamate.

Aerobic exercise elevates perceived appetite but does not modify energy intake over a 3-day postexercise period: A pilot study.

While a low degree of energy compensation is typically reported over the 24 h following a session of exercise, the prolonged impact of a bout of exercise on energy intake remains unclear. To overcome the challenge associated with accurately measuring energy intake in a free-living environment, this study employed the use of a meal replacement beverage to assess the 3 day impact of an exercise session on energy intake. In a randomized, crossover study, 14 participants (8 male, 6 female) completed two trials: (1) EX: 75 min exercise on a motorized treadmill (75% VO2peak); and (2) SED: 75 min sedentary control session. Each condition was followed by 3 days of exclusive ad libitum consumption of a meal replacement beverage. Appetite-regulating hormones, subjective appetite, energy intake, and energy expenditure were assessed. Exercise transiently suppressed the orexigenic hormone acyl-ghrelin (p < 0.05) and elevated the appetite-supressing hepatokine GDF-15 (p < 0.05). Despite these acute changes, overall perceived appetite was elevated over the 3 day assessment period with exercise (p < 0.05). No increase in energy intake or change in postexercise physical activity patterns were observed. One acute session of moderate to vigorous exercise is unlikely to affect short-term, three-day energy balance in healthy individuals.

Branched Short-Chain Fatty Acid-Rich Fermented Protein Food Improves the Growth and Intestinal Health by Regulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Young Pigs.

The diet in early life is essential for the growth and intestinal health later in life. However, beneficial effects of a diet enriched in branched short-chain fatty acids (BSCFAs) for infants are ambiguous. This study aimed to develop a novel fermented protein food, enriched with BSCFAs and assess the effects of dry and wet ferment products on young pig development, nutrient absorption, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota and metabolites. A total of 18 young pigs were randomly assigned to three groups. The dry corn gluten-wheat bran mixture (DFCGW) and wet corn gluten-wheat bran mixture (WFCGW) were utilized as replacements for 10% soybean meal in the basal diet. Our results exhibited that the WFCGW diet significantly increased the growth performance of young pigs, enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins, and regulated associated cytokines expression in the colonic mucosa. Simultaneously, the WFCGW diet led to elevated levels of colonic isobutyric and isovaleric acid, as well as the activation of GPR41 and GPR109A. Furthermore, more potential probiotics including Lactobacillus, Megasphaera, and Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group were enriched in the WFCGW group and positively associated with the beneficial metabolites such as 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. Differential metabolite KEGG pathway analysis suggested that WFCGW might exert gut health benefits by modulating tryptophan metabolism. In addition, the WFCGW diet significantly increased ghrelin concentrations in serum and hypothalamus and promoted the appetite of young pigs by activating hypothalamic NPY/AGRP neurons. This study extends the knowledge of BSCFAs and provides a reference for the fermented food application in the infant diet.

A web-based and mobile randomised controlled trial providing complementary feeding guidelines to first-time parents in France to promote responsive parental feeding practices, healthy children's eating behaviour and optimal body mass index: the NutrienT trial study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a crucial public health issue. Early childhood is a critical time to foster the establishment of healthy eating behaviours and growth, which are partly shaped by parental feeding practices. To inform French parents of the recently updated national complementary feeding guidelines for 0-3 years (in terms of nutrition and responsive feeding as a mean to encourage infant appetite control skills and promote healthy growth), an official printed brochure was developed and nationally disseminated in 2021 by the French public health agency, Santé publique France. This randomised controlled trial aims to investigate whether the provision of guidelines through digital (smartphone application) and printed (brochure) tools (vs. the printed brochure alone, usual service) results in healthier parental feeding practices, infant eating behaviours and weight status. METHODS: This double-blinded monocentric 2-arm trial is currently conducted among first-time parents living in the area of Dijon (France) and recruited in a maternity ward. From child age 3 to 36 months (mo), an app provides a range of 106 age-adapted messages, including dietary recommendations, educational advice, recipes, and tips (intervention group only). Additionally, parents of both groups are provided with 48 messages related to child general development and the printed brochure at child age 2.7 mo. The primary outcome is the body mass index (BMI) z-score at child age 36 mo. Secondary outcome measures include a combination of online parents' reports and behavioural assessments (experimental meals) of parental feeding practices and infant eating behaviours from inclusion to 36 months of age. Analyses of covariance on these outcomes will assess the effect of the intervention, adjusted for relevant confounders. Complementary mediation and moderation analyses will be conducted. Sample size was determined to be n = 118 in each arm of the trial, plus 20% to compensate for potential attrition. DISCUSSION: This is the first public eHealth randomised control trial in France to assess the effect of a web-based and mobile intervention targeted to first-time parents to improve child feeding practices and child growth. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05285761 (March 18, 2022).

Appetite hormones, neuropsychological function and methylphenidate use in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Appetite hormones may play a significant role in neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity and may also affect brain function development. This study aimed to explore the role of appetite hormones in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including aspects of pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, and side effects. We recruited 119 patients with ADHD who were undergoing methylphenidate treatment (ADHD+MPH), 77 unmedicated ADHD patients (ADHD-MPH), and 87 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected from all participants to examine serum levels of orexin A, ghrelin, leptin, and adiponectin. Behavioral symptoms were assessed using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale, and visual and auditory attention were evaluated using computerized neuropsychological tests. The side effects of methylphenidate treatment were measured using Barkley's Side Effects Rating Scale. Orexin levels in the control group were significantly higher than in the ADHD-MPH (p=0.037) and ADHD+MPH (p<0.001) groups; additionally, orexin levels in the ADHD-MPH group were significantly higher than in the ADHD+MPH group (p=0.032). Leptin levels in both the ADHD+MPH (p=0.011) and ADHD-MPH (p=0.011) groups were significantly lower than in the control group. Ghrelin levels were positively associated with auditory attention across all ADHD groups (p=0.015). Furthermore, ghrelin levels were positively correlated with methylphenidate dosage (p=0.024), and negatively correlated with methylphenidate side effects (p=0.044) in the ADHD+MPH group. These findings provide further insight into the relationships between appetite hormones, pharmacotherapy, and ADHD. Orexin A and leptin are associated with the etiology of ADHD, while orexin A and ghrelin play important roles in attention deficits and methylphenidate usage in ADHD.

Ultra-processed foods cause weight gain and increased energy intake associated with reduced chewing frequency: A randomized, open-label, crossover study.

AIM: To elucidate the effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on body weight and ad libitum energy intake compared with non-UPFs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, open-label crossover study conducted at the University of Tokyo Hospital, overweight/obese Japanese male participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to start the study with consumption of either UPFs or non-UPFs for 1 week, followed by a 2-week washout period, before crossing over to the alternate food diet for 1 week. Individuals with diabetes, hypertension or any other medical conditions who visited a hospital regularly were excluded. The meals were designed to be matched for the total energy and macronutrient levels. The primary outcome was the difference in the body weight change between the UPF and non-UPF periods. The differences in the average daily energy intake and chewing frequency were assessed as one of the prespecified secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Nine eligible participants were randomly assigned to start the study with either UPFs or non-UPFs. All participants completed the study. During the UPF period, participants gained 1.1 kg more weight (95% confidence interval 0.2 to 2.0; P = .021) and consumed 813.5 kcal more per day (342.4 to 1284.7; P = .0041) compared with during the non-UPF period. Regarding the chewing frequency, the number of chews per calorie was significantly lower during the UPF period (P = .016). CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of UPFs causes significant weight gain. Medical nutritional therapy focused on reducing the consumption of UPFs could be an effective strategy for preventing obesity.

The Beneficial Effects of Regular Intake of Lactobacillus paragasseri OLL2716 on Gastric Discomfort in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

We investigated the effects of Lactobacillus paragasseri OLL2716 on gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults with gastric complaints. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 174 healthy Japanese adults were randomly assigned to an OLL2716 or placebo group, and each group consumed 85 g of yogurt containing L. paragasseri OLL2716 or placebo yogurt daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in gastric symptoms from baseline as per the participants' questionnaires at 6 and 12 weeks. The secondary endpoints were changes from baseline in the short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire-Japanese (CNAQ-J) scores at 6 and 12 weeks. The primary endpoint data showed that the changes in "epigastric pain" at 6 and 12 weeks were significantly decreased in the OLL2716 group compared with those in the placebo group. Additionally, the changes in "epigastric pain syndrome-like symptoms" were significantly decreased in the OLL2716 group compared with those in the placebo group at 6 weeks. The SF-NDI items that improved at 6 weeks were "irritable, tense, or frustrated", "enjoyment of eating or drinking", and "tension", which are sub-scales related to mental stress. The items "Over-all" in the GSRS and "feeling hungry" in the CNAQ-J significantly improved in the OLL2716 group compared with the placebo group at 12 weeks. The results suggest that regular intake of L. paragasseri OLL2716 may improve both gastric discomfort and mental stress in healthy adults with gastric complaints, such as postprandial fullness or early satiety.

Divergent transcriptomic profiles in depressed individuals with hyper- and hypophagia implicating inflammatory status.

BACKGROUND: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a heterogenous and etiologically complex disease often presenting with divergent appetitive phenotypes including Hyperphagic MDD (characterized by an increased appetite) and Hypophagic MDD (characterized by a decrease in appetite) which are closely related to comorbidities, including cardiometabolic disorders. Hyperphagia is associated with atypical depression, decreased stress-hormone signaling, a pro-inflammatory status, hypersomnia, and poorer clinical outcomes. Yet, our understanding of associated biological correlates of Hyperphagic and Hypophagic MDD remain fragmented. METHODS: We performed an exploratory study on peripheral blood RNA profiling using bulk RNAseq in unmedicated individuals with Hyperphagic and Hypophagic MDD (n = 7 and n = 13, respectively). RESULTS: At baseline, we discovered an increased expression of TADA2B in hyperphagic MDD with the significant enrichment of 72 gene ontology pathways mainly related to inflammation. In addition, we used the Maastricht Acute Stress Task to uncover stress-related transcriptomic profiles in Hyper- and Hypophagic MDD and discovered the upregulation of CCDC196 and the downregulation of SPATA33 in hyperphagic MDD. Gene ontology enrichment analysis after stress exposure showed pathways related to ribosomal activity. LIMITATIONS: The present findings are tempered primarily by the limited sample size, which requires independent replication of this exploratory study. However, stringent methods controlling for false positive findings mitigate the risk associated with sample size limitations. DISCUSSION: Limitations notwithstanding, findings suggest that hyper- and hypophagic MDD is associated with divergent RNA expression profiles in peripheral blood that are amplified by exposure to a controlled stress test. Our findings in a well-controlled study provide evidence for peripheral markers of a relevant endophenotype of MDD.

Effect of in vitro food oral coating and lubricity on satiety: A randomized controlled trial using milk protein beverages.

We investigated the effects of complex textural attributes of food i.e. lubricity and oral coating, on appetite ratings, food intake, salivary and gut peptides for the first time. Milk protein-rich beverages (whey and casein) were instrumentally analyzed (tribology, viscosity and adsorption, latter representing oral coating) using in vitro measurements. Then these protein beverage preloads differing in their coating properties (low coating, medium coating and high coating) were assessed in two cross-over satiety trials (Study 1, n=37; Study 2, n=15; Total n= 52). Fullness ratings increased in the high coating beverage condition (p < .05) only after 20 min with limited effects on other time points, suggesting a sporadic effect of oral coating on appetite ratings (n=37). There was a correlation between concentration of protein in saliva and appetite ratings; the higher the concentration of protein in saliva the lower the desire to eat (r = - 0.963; p < 0.05) and prospective food consumption ratings (r =- 0.980; p < 0.05). Human saliva was more lubricating after ingesting preload with high coating properties, thus explaining the results on appetite ratings. There was no effect of oral coating on energy intake and gut peptides (n=15), suggesting that complex textural attributes having influence on oral processing might not have any effect on the later parts of the satiety cascade. Oral coating/ lubricity appears to have a subtle and sporadic effect on appetite suppression, which needs further investigation with changing macronutrients/energy load and degree of coating/ lubricity.

Efficiency of post-meal memory inhibition predicts subsequent food intake.

Memory processes may contribute to appetite regulation. When people look at palatable foods, their desire to consume them depends upon memory retrieval (i.e., recalling if it will taste good). If memory inhibition occurs during satiety, then pleasant eating-related memories will not be retrieved, making eating less likely. In contrast, if memory inhibition is less efficient, pleasant food-related memories will be retrieved, the food will appear desirable, and the chance of consumption increases. Here we tested whether a putative measure of memory inhibition could predict post-meal snack food intake. Study participants looked at palatable snacks and judged their desire to eat them (i.e., a memory-dependent process), and then ate a small sample of each food, and rated them for liking (i.e., an orosensory-dependent process) - all using category rating scales. Following a filling meal, this test was repeated, alongside others. Finally, participants were given the opportunity for ad libitum snack food consumption, in addition to collecting measures such as impulsivity. Poorer memory inhibition (i.e., smaller changes in wanting relative to liking from pre-to post-meal) was associated with greater consumption of snacks on the ad libitum test (Sr2% = 4.4, p = 0.006) after controlling for other variables likely to influence eating (e.g., impulsivity). This effect was maintained even when the memory inhibition measure was based on foods different to those being consumed on the ad libitum snacking test. In conclusion, memory inhibition may contribute to food intake regulation, and when this is less efficient, more palatable food is likely to be eaten in the post-meal period.