March 2010
A new scientific study from Oxford Brookes University shows that a mid-morning drink of juice or another sweetened beverage can reduce lunchtime appetite, especially in men!
The study, conducted by Viren Ranawana and Professor Jeya Henry of the Functional Food Centre at Oxford Brookes University, is the first of its kind to compare the ‘compensation effect’ of liquid calories on short-term energy consumption, in men and women.
During the research, male and female subjects consumed orange juice from concentrate, semi-skimmed milk, a sugar-sweetened fruit drink, or a calorie-free fruit drink, one hour before their lunchtime meal. Each group was then provided with a self-selection buffet, including a variety of foods in ample quantity, and the amount of energy they then freely consumed was analysed and compared.
The results show that liquid calories are detected by the body and compensated for at the next meal. Both men and women who consumed a drink containing calories in the morning ate less energy for lunch, compared to when they had a calorie-free mid-morning drink. Interestingly, men’s bodies appear to have better inbuilt calorie detectors than women, with the average total energy intakes for men following all four drinks being very similar, while women demonstrated a trend for greater energy intake following the three caloric drinks compared to the calorie-free drink.
Professor Henry, of Oxford Brookes University, said: “It is important to understand if the growth in caloric beverage consumption is contributing to the increased prevalence of obesity and diabetes. It has been suggested that sugars provided in liquid form encourage ‘passive over-consumption’ of energy from food, but this study shows that the body does compensate in the short term. Further research is now needed to understand the mechanisms involved and whether the body also compensates for liquid calorie consumption in the long term.”
Ends
Ranawana, D. V., & Henry, C. J. K. (2010) Are caloric beverages compensated for in the short-term by young adults? An investigation with particular focus on gender differences. Appetite, 55, 137-46
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