A randomized crossover, pilot study examining the effects of a normal protein vs. high protein breakfast on food cravings and reward signals in overweight/obese “breakfast skipping”, late-adolescent girls

Heather A Hoertel,Matthew J Will,Heather J Leidy

doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-80

Abstract

BackgroundThis pilot study examined whether the addition of a normal protein (NP) vs. high protein (HP) breakfast leads to alterations in food cravings and plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), which is an index of central dopamine production, in overweight/obese ‘breakfast skipping’ late-adolescent young women.MethodsA randomized crossover design was incorporated in which 20 girls (age 19 ± 1 y; BMI 28.6 ± 0.7 kg/m2) consumed 350 kcal NP (13 g protein) breakfast meals, 350 kcal HP (35 g protein) breakfast meals, or continued breakfast skipping (BS) for 6 consecutive days/pattern. On day 7 of each pattern, a 4 h testing day was completed including the consumption of breakfast (or no breakfast) followed by food craving questionnaires and blood sampling for HVA concentrations throughout the morning.ResultsBoth breakfast meals reduced post-meal cravings for sweet and savory foods and increased HVA concentrations vs. BS (all, p < 0.05). Between breakfast meals, the HP breakfast tended to elicit greater reductions in post-meal savory cravings vs. NP (p = 0.08) and tended to elicit sustained increases in HVA concentrations prior to lunch vs. NP (p = 0.09). Lastly, HVA concentrations were positively correlated with the protein content at breakfast (r: 0.340; p < 0.03).ConclusionsCollectively, these findings suggest that the addition of breakfast reduces post-meal food cravings and increases homovanillic acid concentrations in overweight/obese young people with higher protein versions eliciting greater responses.

Highlights

Adolescent obesity continues to be a growing public health concern in the United States, affecting the lives of over 25 million young people [1,2]
The consumption of breakfast, regardless of type, led to an initial decline in sweet cravings followed by a progressive increase throughout the morning, whereas breakfast skipping led to a progressive increase over the 4 h period
The consumption of breakfast, regardless of type, led to an initial decline in savory cravings followed by a progressive increase throughout the morning, whereas breakfast skipping led to a progressive increase over the 4 h period

Summary

Introduction

Adolescent obesity continues to be a growing public health concern in the United States, affecting the lives of over 25 million young people [1,2]. Central dopamine activity is reduced and is accompanied by elevated preference for highly palatable, energy dense foods compared to normal weight controls [18]. Treatment with dopamine agonists reverses the excess body weight and obesity [17] These data suggest that strategies to stimulate dopamine activity may lead to significant improvements in obesity. This pilot study examined whether the addition of a normal protein (NP) vs high protein (HP) breakfast leads to alterations in food cravings and plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), which is an index of central dopamine production, in overweight/obese ‘breakfast skipping’ late-adolescent young women. On day 7 of each pattern, a 4 h testing day was completed including the consumption of breakfast (or no breakfast) followed by food craving questionnaires and blood sampling for HVA concentrations throughout the morning

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Methods

Results

Conclusion