Fiber-based satiety supplement could curb hunger, make you eat less

Food can be a battle for people with diabetes, as weight control and blood sugar management is more important for these individuals than the average person.

And since hunger can be a major barrier to success in these areas, researchers are leaning toward the development of satiety supplements - which make you feel less hungry and more full.

One such supplement, Weightain®, is a satiety ingredient that was shown in a recent study to positively influence food consumption in normal to overweight participants. The results suggest there may be a way for people to curb their appetites without adding additional calories.

Lower hunger levels observed

The study included 90 participants who were given a fruit-based smoothie for breakfast that contained a dose of either 20g or 30g of the Weightain® satiety ingredient. Control patients were given a regular smoothie without the supplement.

For those taking the satiety ingredient, food consumption at both lunch and dinner was lower: participants ate 5 percent less food at lunch and 7 percent fewer calories at dinner than the control patients.

"This is the first study to examine the short term effect of this particular combination of fibres on appetite and food intake," said Dr. Jo Harrold, from the University's Human Ingestive Behavior Laboratory in the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society.

The supplement consists of a combination of dietary fiber - which is commonly known to help control hunger - a viscous hydrocolloid and whole grain corn flour, which includes resistant starch.

Source: University of Liverpool