Effects of chewing gum on specific macronutrient and total caloric intake in an afternoon snack

Abstract

Hetherington and Boyland (2007) have reported that gum chewing in the afternoon after lunch produced a significant reduction in subsequent snack intake, compared to the control condition. The objective of the present study was to verify this observation and to assess specific macronutrient intake and total caloric intake after having chewed gum as compared with intake in the control, no‐gum condition. After consuming a standard lunch, subjects chewed gum for 15 minutes hourly for 3 hours and then were tested in a modified version of our Macronutrient Self‐Selection Paradigm (MSSP). The MSSP consisted of 12 snack foods in which macronutrient content was varied significantly and systematically in a 2 (Fat factor: High Fat and Low Fat) X 2 (Carbohydrate Factor: High Sugar and High Complex Carbohydrate) design. Results showed that, in the gum condition, subjects specifically decreased their caloric intake of high‐sugar, snack foods in comparison with their intake in the no‐gum condition. Intake of the other foods presented in the MSSP did not differ between the two conditions. These results suggest that chewing gum may be effective in the control of intake of sweet snacks and thereby would be useful in weight management. Funding provided by a research grant from the Wrigley Science Institute.