ARS | Publication request: Fermentable and Nonfermentable Fibers: Effects on Hunger, Satiety and Body Weight in Healthy Men and Women

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2003
Publication Date: March 17, 2003
Citation: HOWARTH, N.C., SALTZMAN, E., MCCRORY, M.A., GREENBERG, A.S., DWYER, J., HUGHES, T.E., ROBERTS, S.B. FERMENTABLE AND NONFERMENTABLE FIBERS: EFFECTS ON HUNGER, SATIETY AND BODY WEIGHT IN HEALTHY MEN AND WOMEN. EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY. 2003;17(5 PT II):A810.

Technical Abstract: Enhancing satiety and preventing weight gain are potential benefits of dietary fiber, but there is little information on relative effects of different kinds of fiber on satiety and energy intake (EI). In animals fermentable fibers (FF) have enhanced satiety and reduced EI and weight compared to nonfermentable fibers (NFF). We therefore compared (pectin, (-glucan) and NFF (methylcellulose) supplements in preparations of equivalent volume, texture and palatability (27 (0.6 g/d for 3 weeks) for their ability to decrease EI and hunger, increase satiety and lead to spontaneous weight and fat losses. Eleven men and women aged 23-46 years, BMI 20.0-34.4 kg/m**2, consumed first NFF and then FF after a 4-week washout period. There were no significant differences reported 24-hour EI between NFF and FF or between either fiber or baseline, nor any changes in weight or body fat percentage within fiber phases. EI averaged 0.59 MJ/d (7%) higher during the FF than NFF supplementation (p=0.313), and was 0.80 MJ (-9.5%) lower during supplementation with NFF than at baseline (p=0.106). Daily satiety (by analog scales) was significantly higher with NFF fiber (60.7(3.3 mm vs. 57.4(2.1 mm, p=0.005). In conclusion, a large amount of FF was not more satiating or more effective at suppressing hunger than NFF, nor were these relatively large doses of functional fiber associated with weight loss in this population.