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Chronic consumption of a blend of inulin and arabinoxylan reduces energy intake in an ad libitum meal but does not influence perceptions of appetite and satiety: a randomised control-controlled crossover trial

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Abstract

Purpose

Prebiotic foods can be used to increase production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the gut. Of the SCFA, propionate is credited with the strongest anorectic activity. In previous work, a 50/50 blend of inulin and arabinoxylan was produced (I + AX) that significantly increased propionate production in an in vitro gut model. This study sought to establish whether chronic consumption of a prebiotic blend of I + AX decreases appetite and energy intake and increases intestinal propionate production in human participants.

Methods

MIXSAT (clinicaltrials.gov id: NCT02846454, August 2016) was a double-blind randomised acute-within-chronic crossover feeding trial in healthy adult men (n = 20). Treatments were 8 g per day I + AX for 21 days or weight-matched maltodextrin control. The primary outcome measure was perceived satiety and appetite during an acute study visit. Secondary outcomes were energy intake in an ad libitum meal, faecal SCFA concentration, and faecal microbiota composition.

Results

Perceived satiety and appetite were not affected by the intervention. I + AX was associated with a reduction in energy intake in an ad libitum meal, increased faecal SCFA concentration, and an increase in cell counts of Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and other microbial genera associated with health.

Implications

Chronic consumption of this blend of prebiotics decreased energy intake in a single sitting. Further studies are needed to confirm mechanism of action and to determine whether this might be useful in weight control.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [SMC, DC, GRG], upon reasonable request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Berkshire, UK

    Sineaid M. Collins & Glenn R. Gibson

  2. Herbalife Nutrition, The Atrium, 1 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK

    Gavin N. Stainton, Andrea Bertocco, Orla B. Kennedy & Gemma E. Walton

  3. Applied and Health Sciences, Northumbria University, Tyne and Wear, UK

    Daniel M. Commane

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  1. Sineaid M. Collins
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sineaid M. Collins.

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Conflict of interest

This work was part funded by Herbalife Nutrition, UK. GNS and AB are employees of Herbalife Nutrition; SMC GRG, OB, GEW, and AW are employees of Reading University, DMC is a current employee of Northumbria University. GNS and AB provided logistical support, particularly around treatment product development and study blinding. They were not involved in study design or data analysis and interpretation. SMC, OBK, GRG, and DMC designed the study, and GEW and AW provided support with data analysis and interpretation. SMC and DMC prepared the manuscript, and all authors have reviewed and approved the final script. Aside from those described above, the authors report no other conflicts of interest.

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Collins, S.M., Gibson, G.R., Stainton, G.N. et al. Chronic consumption of a blend of inulin and arabinoxylan reduces energy intake in an ad libitum meal but does not influence perceptions of appetite and satiety: a randomised control-controlled crossover trial. Eur J Nutr 62, 2205–2215 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03136-6

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