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Fasting glucagon-like peptide 1 concentration is associated with lower carbohydrate intake and increases with overeating

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Abstract

Purpose

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone that appears to play a major role in the control of food intake. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and quantify the association of circulating GLP-1 concentration with ad libitum total calorie and macronutrient intake.

Methods

One-hundred and fifteen individuals (72 men) aged 35 ± 10 years were admitted for an inpatient study investigating the determinants of energy intake. Ad libitum food intake was assessed during 3 days using a reproducible vending machine paradigm. Fasting plasma GLP-1 concentrations were measured on the morning of the first day and on the morning of the fourth day after ad libitum feeding.

Results

Plasma GLP-1 concentrations increased by 14% after 3 days of ad libitum food intake. Individuals overate on average 139 ± 45% of weight-maintaining energy needs. Fasting plasma GLP-1 on day 1 was negatively associated with carbohydrate intake (r = − 0.2, p = 0.03) and with daily energy intake from low fat–high simple sugar (r = − 0.22, p = 0.016).

Conclusion

Higher plasma GLP-1 concentrations prior to ad libitum food intake were associated with lower carbohydrate intake and lower simple sugar ingestion, indicating a possible role of the GLP-1 in the reward pathway regulating simple sugar intake.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00342732.

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Abbreviations

GLP-1:

Glucagon-like peptide 1

FM:

Fat mass

FFM:

Fat-free mass

OGTT:

Oral glucose tolerance test

DXA:

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

CNS:

Central nervous system

LF:

Low fat

HSS:

High simple sugar

HF:

High fat

HCC:

High complex carbohydrate

HP:

Low fat/high protein

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the volunteers who participated in our studies. They also thank the clinical staff of the Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch for conducting the examinations. Also, the authors thank the metabolic kitchen stuff. This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The authors have nothing to disclose.

Funding

This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity and Diabetes Clinical Research Section, Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 4212 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA

    A. Basolo, S. Heinitz, E. J. Stinson, B. Begaye, M. Hohenadel, P. Piaggi, J. Krakoff & S. B. Votruba

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Nephrology, University of Leipzig, 1Liebigstr. 18, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    S. Heinitz

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  1. A. Basolo
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  8. S. B. Votruba
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Contributions

AB analyzed and interpreted data and wrote the manuscript. PP and ES assisted with the interpretation of the data and revised the manuscript. MH and SH supported with the interpretation of the data and reviewed the manuscript. SV and JK designed, implemented and conducted the study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors critically revised the draft and approved the final manuscript. AB had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Basolo.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Basolo, A., Heinitz, S., Stinson, E.J. et al. Fasting glucagon-like peptide 1 concentration is associated with lower carbohydrate intake and increases with overeating. J Endocrinol Invest 42, 557–566 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-018-0954-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-018-0954-5

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