The acute effects of protein quantity and distribution on appetite control, satiety, and food intake in overweight young women

Abstract

PurposeTo examine the acute effects of protein quantity and protein distribution on appetite control, satiety, and daily food intake in overweight young women who habitually eat breakfast.Design20 young women (age: 19±1y; BMI: 28.9±0.6kg/m2) completed 4 meal patterns in which the protein content of the breakfast and lunch meals varied. Normal Protein Breakfast +Normal Protein Lunch(NPB‐NPL) High Protein Breakfast + High Protein Lunch (HPB‐NPL) Moderate Protein Breakfast + Moderate Protein Lunch (MPB‐MPL) High Protein Breakfast + High Protein Lunch (HPB‐HPL) Protein at Breakfast (g) 10 30 20 30 Protein at Lunch (g) 15 15 25 30 Sum of Protein at Breakfast and Lunch (g) 25 45 45 60 The women followed each pattern for 3 acclimation days. On the 4th day of each pattern, the respective 10‐h testing day was completed. Blood samples and assessments of perceived appetite and satiety were assessed at specific times throughout the day. Prior to dinner, a brain scan was completed using fMRI to identify brain activation in response to food stimuli. Ad libitum dinner and evening snacks were also provided.ResultsOnly the HPB‐HPL pattern led to daily reductions in hunger, desire to eat, and prospective food consumption as well as daily increases in PYY concentrations vs. NPB‐NPL (all, P<0.05), whereas the HPB‐NPL and MPB‐MPL did not. In addition, the HPB‐HPL and MPB‐MPL patterns led to blunted pre‐dinner cortico‐limbic neural activation vs. NPB‐NPL (both, p<0.01). No other differences in appetite control and satiety were detected between patterns. Lastly, no differences in evening snack behavior or daily food intake were detected between patterns.ConclusionsAlthough a high protein breakfast in combination with a high protein lunch led to improved appetite control and satiety, these responses did not translate into reductions in evening snacking or daily intake in women who habitually consume breakfast. Further, no protein‐related dose‐responses or protein distribution effects were detected.Funding Egg Nutrition Center & The Beef Checkoff