The effects of a priming dose of alcohol and drinking environment on snack food intake.

Alcohol consumption is a potential risk factor for being overweight. We aimed to investigate the effects of an alcohol priming dose and an alcohol-related environment on snacking behaviour. One hundred and fourteen social drinkers completed one of four experimental sessions either receiving a priming dose of alcohol (.6 g/kg) or soft drink in a bar-lab or a sterile lab. Participants provided ratings of appetite, snack urge, and alcohol urge before and after consuming their drinks. Participants completed an ad libitum snack taste test of savoury and sweet, healthy and unhealthy foods before completing the self-reports a final time. Appetite and snack urge increased more following alcohol consumption, and decreased to a lesser extent following the taste test relative to the soft drink. Total calories (including drink calories) consumed were significantly higher in the alcohol groups. There was a marginal effect of environment; those in the bar-lab consumed a higher proportion of unhealthy foods. These effects were more pronounced in those who were disinhibited. While alcohol may not increase food consumption per se, alcohol may acutely disrupt appetite signals, perhaps via processes of reward and inhibitory control, resulting in overall greater calorie intake. Individuals who are generally disinhibited may be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and drinking environments on eating behaviour.

Supplementing chicken broth with monosodium glutamate reduces energy intake from high fat and sweet snacks in middle-aged healthy women.

Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) and inosine monophosphate-5 (IMP) are flavor enhancers for umami taste. However, their effects on appetite and food intake are not well-researched. The objective of the current study was to test their additions in a broth preload on subsequent appetite ratings, energy intake and food choice. Eighty-six healthy middle-aged women with normal body weight received three preload conditions on 3 test days 1 week apart - a low-energy chicken flavor broth (200 ml) as the control preload, and broths with added MSG alone (0.5 g/100 ml, MSG broth) or in combination with IMP (0.05 g/100 ml) (MSG+ broth) served as the experimental conditions. Fifteen minutes after preload administration subjects were provided an ad libitum testing meal which consisted of 16 snacks varying in taste and fat content. MSG and MSG+ enhanced savory taste and broth properties of liking and pleasantness. In comparison with control, the MSG preload resulted in less consumption of total energy, as well as energy from sweet and high-fat snacks. Furthermore, MSG broth preload reduced added sugar intake. These findings were not observed after MSG+ preload. Appetite ratings were not different across the three preloads. Results suggest a potential role of MSG addition to a low-energy broth preload in subsequent energy intake and food choice. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01761045.

Insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents: changes in dietary habits, composition and quality of life.

AIM: Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) can improve glycaemic control and dietary flexibility compared with conventional insulin therapies. There is little information on whether users are utilising this increased dietary flexibility, and whether dietary quality is affected. METHODS: A pre-post observational study was undertaken in 28 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes commencing CSII. Meal pattern and dietary composition was examined from 3-day food diaries completed before and 3-6 months after CSII commencement. Participants completed the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life for Youth Short Form, and body mass index z-score, and glycated haemoglobin were measured. A second posttest was undertaken at 18 months with those who were still on CSII and contactable (n = 18). RESULTS: Energy and macronutrient intake before and 18 months after CSII commencement were unchanged. Mean snacking events decreased significantly by 1.2 snacks per day (P = 0.009), as did the percentage energy derived from snacks (28.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 21.5-36.1 vs. 19.3%, 95% CI 13.2-25.4; P = 0.045). Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life for Youth Short Form score was not significantly affected by pump commencement (25.9 95% CI 18.2-33.6), and body mass index z-score remained similar before and after CSII. Glycated haemoglobin decreased by 0.5% in the 3-6 months following CSII commencement, but was similar to baseline at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the commencement of CSII did not lead to an abandonment of healthy eating principles, and that patients utilised the increased dietary flexibility to make changes to their snacking pattern.