Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

The effect of guar gum addition to a semisolid meal on appetite related to blood glucose, in dieting men

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 771–778 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether addition of modified guar gum (GG) to a low-energy semisolid meal might be effective on appetite by modifying the response of blood glucose and other blood parameters.

Design: Three intervention periods of 2 weeks each, separated by washout periods of 4 weeks. Randomized and cross-over design.

Subjects: Fifteen overweight male subjects (mean±s.d.; age, 44±9 y; body mass index, 28.6±1.8 kg/m2).

Intervention: Subjects consumed a low-energy diet divided over three times a day, consisting of a semisolid meal with (SSM+) or without (SSM) addition of 2.5 g GG, or a solid meal (SM) with the same energy content (947 kJ) and macronutrient composition, plus a dinner of the subject's own choice. At the end of each intervention, time and number of meal initiations, dynamics of blood glucose and other blood parameters, and appetite ratings such as hunger and satiety were determined in a time-blinded situation.

Results: The changes in blood glucose from meal initiation to blood glucose peak and from peak to nadir were smaller with SSM+ and SM compared to SSM. Satiety before the third meal was higher with SSM+ and SM compared to SSM (P<0.01). Meal pattern, general appetite and total energy intake were similar for all treatments.

Conclusions: We conclude that, similar to SM, SSM+ resulted in a more moderate change in blood glucose compared to SSM and positively affected satiety before the third meal, while general appetite, total energy intake and meal pattern did not differ.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Astrup A, Vrist E, Quaade F . 1990 Dietary fiber added to very low calorie diet reduces hunger and alleviates constipation Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 14: 105–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn NA, Holgate AM, Read NW . 1984a Does guar gum improve post-prandial hyperglycemia in humans by reducing small intestinal contact area? Br. J. Nutr. 52: 197–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn NA, Redfern JS, Jarjis H, Holgate AM, Hanning I, Scarpello JHB, Johnson IT, Read NW . 1984b The mechanism of action of guar gum in improving glucose tolerance in man Clin. Sci. 66: 329–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blundell JE, Burley VJ . 1987 Satiation, satiety and the action of fibre on food intake Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 11: (Suppl 1): 9–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Burley VJ, Blundell JE . 1990 Action of dietary fiber on the satiety cascade In: Dietary Fiber: Chemistry, Physiology, and Health Effects ed. D Kritchevsky, C Bonfield & JW Anderson, pp 227–246 New York: Plenum Press

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Doucet E, Imbeault P, St-Pierre S, Alméras N, Mauriège P, Richard D, Tremblay A . 2000 Appetite after weight loss by energy restriction and a low-fat diet-exercise follow-up Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 24: 906–914

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans E, Miller DS . 1975 Bulking agents in the treatment of obesity Nutr. Metab. 18: 199–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harju E . 1985 Increases in meal viscosity caused by addition of guar gum decrease postprandial activity and rate of emptying of gastric contents in healthy subjects Panminerva Med. 27: 125–128

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heini AF, Lara-Castro C, Schneider H, Kirk KA, Considine RV, Weinsier RL . 1998 Effect of hydrolyzed guar fiber on fasting and postprandial satiety and satiety hormones: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial during controlled weight loss Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 22: 906–909

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herman CP, Polivy J . 1980 Restrained eating In: Obesity ed. AJ Stunkard, pp 208–225 Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders

    Google Scholar 

  • Hylander B, Rössner S . 1983 Effects of dietary fiber intake before meals on weight loss and hunger in a weight-reducing club Acta Med. Scand. 213: 217–220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kissileff HR, Klingsberg G, Van Itallie TB . 1980 Universal eating monitor for continuous recording of solid or liquid consumption in man Am. J. Physiol. 7: R14–R22

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs EMR, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Saris WHM, Goossens I, Geurten P, Brouns F . 2001 The effect of addition of modified guar gum to a low-energy semisolid meal on appetite and body weight loss Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 25: 307–315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavin JH, Read NW . 1995 The effect on hunger and satiety of slowing the absorption of glucose: relationship with gastric emptying and postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses Appetite 25: 89–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leeds AR . 1987 Dietary fiber: mechanism of action Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 11: (Suppl 1): 3–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Lembcke B, Ebert R, Ptok M, Caspary WF, Creutzfeldt W, Schicha H, Emrich D . 1984 Role of gastrointestinal transit in the delay of absorption by viscous fibre (guar) Hepatogastroenterology 31: 183–186

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Marken Lichtenbelt WD, Westerterp KR, Wouters L . 1994 Deuterium dilution as a method for determining total body water: effect of test protocol and sampling time Br. J. Nutr. 72: 491–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meier R, Beglinger C, Schneider H, Rowedder A, Gyr K . 1993 Effect of a liquid diet with and without soluble fiber supplementation on intestinal transit and cholecystokinin release in volunteers J. Parent. Enteral Nutr. 17: 231–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melanson KJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Smith FJ, Campfield LA, Saris WHM . 1999a Blood glucose patterns and appetite in time-blinded humans: carbohydrate versus fat Am. J. Physiol. 277: R337–R345

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melanson KJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Campfield LA, Saris WHM . 1999b Appetite and blood glucose profiles in humans following glycogen-depleting exercise J. Appl. Physiol. 87: 947–954

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melanson KJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Campfield LA, Saris WHM . 1999c Blood glucose and meal patterns in time-blinded males, after aspartame, carbohydrate, and fat consumption, in relation to sweetness perception Br. J. Nutr. 82: 437–446

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore JJ, Marcus M, Sax SM . 1982 Kinetic assay of β-hydroxybutyrate in plasma with cobas bio centrifugal analyzer Clin. Chem. 73: 1334–1339

    Google Scholar 

  • van Nieuwenhoven MA, Kovacs EMR, Martin A-M, Brummer R-JM, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Brouns F . 2001 The effect of different dosages of guar gum on the rate of gastric emptying and intestinal transit of an ingested semisolid meal J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 20: 87–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pasman WJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Muls E, Vansant G, van Ree J, Saris WHM . 1997 Effect of one week of fibre supplementation on hunger and satiety or energy intake Appetite 29: 77–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rössner S, von Zweigbergk D, Öhlin A, Ryttig K . 1987 Weight reduction with dietary fibre supplements. Results of two double-blind randomized studies Acta Med. Scand. 222: 83–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rössner S, Andersson I-L, Ryttig K . 1988 Effects of a dietary fibre supplement to a weight reduction programme on blood pressure. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study Acta Med. Scand. 223: 353–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rydning A, Berstad A, Berstad T, Hertzenberg L . 1985 The effect of guar gum and fiber-enriched wheat bran on gastric emptying of a semisolid meal in healthy subjects Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 20: 330–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryttig KR, Tellnes G, Hægh L, Bøe E, Fagerthun H . 1989 A dietary fibre supplement and weight maintenance after weight reduction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled long-term trial Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 13: 165–171

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schoeller DA, van Santen E, Peterson DW, Diez W, Jaspan J, Klein PD . 1980 Total body water measurement in humans with 18O and 2H labeled water Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 33: 2686–2693

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solum TT, Ryttig KR, Solum E, Larsen S . 1987 The influence of high-fibre diet on body weight, serum lipids and blood pressure in slightly overweight persons. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation with diet and fibre tablets (Dumovital) Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 11: (Suppl 1): 67–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens J . 1988 Does dietary fiber affect food intake and body weight? J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 88: 939–942, 945

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stunkard AJ, Messick S . 1985 The three-factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition, and hunger J. Psychosom. Res. 29: 71–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Westerterp KR, Nicolson NA, Mordant A, Schoffelen PFM, ten Hoor F . 1990 The shape of the cumulative food intake curve in humans, during basic and manipulated meals Physiol. Behav. 47: 569–576

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Rolland V, Wilson SAJ, Westerterp KR . 1999 Satiety related to 24 h diet-induced thermogenesis during high protein/carbohydrate vs high fat diets measured in a respiration chamber Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 53: 1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilmshurst P, Crawley JCW . 1980 The measurement of gastric transit time in obese subjects using 24Na and the effects of energy content and guar gum on gastric emptying and satiety Br. J. Nutr. 44: 1–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Supported by Novartis Consumer Health Ltd., Nyon, Switzerland.

Author information

Author notes

  1. MS Westerterp-Plantenga: Guarantor: MS Westerterp-Plantenga.

  2. EMR Kovacs, WHM Saris, KJ Melanson, I Goossens, P Geurten and F Brouns: Contributors: EMR Kovacs, WHM Saris, KJ Melanson, I Goossens, P Geurten, F Brouns.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    EMR Kovacs, MS Westerterp-Plantenga, WHM Saris, KJ Melanson, I Goossens, P Geurten & F Brouns

Authors
  1. EMR Kovacs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. MS Westerterp-Plantenga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. WHM Saris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. KJ Melanson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I Goossens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. P Geurten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. F Brouns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to EMR Kovacs.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kovacs, E., Westerterp-Plantenga, M., Saris, W. et al. The effect of guar gum addition to a semisolid meal on appetite related to blood glucose, in dieting men. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 771–778 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601407

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601407

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links