Does Intraduodenal Administration of Sucrose Polyester (Olestra) Cause Satiation in Humans?

Abstract

The effect of intraduodenally perfused sucrose polyester, digestible fat or saline was compared on hunger feelings, food intake and the putative satiety hormones cholecystokinin and pancreatic polypeptide in plasma of 18 healthy volunteers in a double-blind three-period cross-over study. Sucrose polyester, digestible fat or saline was perfused directly into the duodenum. During the perfusion period a standardized meal was provided and the volunteers were asked to eat until satiation. Relative to saline perfusion, digestible fat, but not sucrose polyester, decreased prospective feeding intentions, increased a feeling of fullness and reduced hunger feelings in women (N = 9) but not in men (N = 9). Sucrose polyester tended to suppress appetite ratings less effectively than digestible fat in women. Food intake did not vary among fat, sucrose polyester and saline. Cholecystokinin and pancreatic polypeptide concentrations increased over basal value and in men as in women during perfusion of digestible fat, but not during perfusion of sucrose polyester or saline. It is concluded that at the level of the duodenum sucrose polyester suppresses hunger less effectively than digestible fat, and it does not release cholecystokinin and pancreatic polypeptide into plasma.