Effects of glucose and fructose solutions on food intake and gastric emptying in nonobese women.

Abstract

The differential effects of fructose and glucose on food intake were studied by giving two concentrations (1 and 10%) of glucose and fructose solutions (500 ml) to one group of women 30 min, and to another 135 min, before a meal of macaroni and beef. The 1% solutions of each sugar were sweetened to match 10% fructose by selective additions of aspartame. Gastric emptying of the 10% solutions and water was measured for 90 min. Under the 30-min delay, subjects ate a mean of 75.8 g more (P < 0.05) after the 1% solutions than after water, and 52.2 g (P > 0.05) less after the 10% solutions than after water, but there were no differences in intake between types of sugar under either delay nor between concentrations at the 135-min delay. However, 10% fructose and 1% glucose sweetened to match it reduced intake significantly compared with water. Glucose (10%) emptied significantly slower (t1/2 = 93.61 min) than water (t1/2 = 29.77 min), while fructose (10%) was intermediate (t1/2 = 65.45 min). Therefore, gastric emptying differences did not account for these results. We conclude that sweetener-enhanced dilute sugar solutions may increase subsequent intake at 30 min, but dilute glucose solutions may have potential for substantial energy savings if consumed 135 min before a meal.