The Influence of Sweet Substrates on Hunger, Gastrointestinal Hormones and the Migrating Motor Complex

The Effect of Caloric and Non-caloric Sweeteners on Hunger, Gastrointestinal Hormones as Well as on Antral and Duodenal Motility

In this study, the investigators aimed at evaluating the role of sweet taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Intragastric administration of glucose, fructose or acesulfame-K were compared with placebo administration for their effects on gastrointestinal motility, gut hormone release (motilin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and insulin) and hunger feelings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI<30 kg/m² for the lean volunteers
• Female or male subjects aged 18 to 60
• Subject is capable and willing to give informed consent
• Female volunteers of child bearing potential must use oral, injected or implanted hormonal methods of contraception

Exclusion Criteria:

• Female volunteer is pregnant or breastfeeding
• GI diseases, major abdominal surgery
• Volunteers that have food allergies, especially fructose intolerance
• Major psychiatric illnesses
• Volunteers that use drugs affecting the GI tract or the central nervous system
• Volunteers suffering from an endocrine disease such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, hypothalamic tumor
• Volunteers that have undergone surgical procedure for weight loss