Anton SD, Martin CK, Han H et al Appetite 55 (2010): 37-43
Objective: Examine impact of meal preloads covertly sweetened with either sucrose, Stevia or Aspartame on caloric intake at subsequent meal, and on satiety, and postprandial glucose and insulin levels
Design: Subjects received standard breakfast after overnight fast then one of three preloads (tea and crackers) 20 minutes before ad lib. lunch and dinner. Preloads were of differing calorie amounts (sucrose 493kcal, sweeteners 290 kcal each) but subjects blinded as to their contents.
Setting: Pennington Biomedical Research Centre USA
Participants: 19 healthy lean and 12 obese individuals 18-50 years old (gender numbers not stated). Restrained eaters, disinhibited and those with medical or psychological problems excluded.
Main outcome measures: Caloric consumption at test meals; self reported satiety and postprandial glucose and insulin levels.
Results: Caloric intake over entire day higher with sucrose preloads (2557 vs 2257 for aspartame and 2248 for stevia). Plasma glucose and insulin levels were higher 20 minutes after the sucrose preload than stevia or aspartame. However, only after stavia were they lower at 30 and 60 minutes after lunch. Self-reported hunger and satiety similar in all groups.
Conclusions: Energy intake did not differ following preloads of different energy content. Participants did not compensate for additional energy in sucrose preload. Stevia may be useful for blood glucose regulation
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