The emulsified lipid Fabuless (Olibra) does not decrease food intake but suppresses appetite when consumed with yoghurt but not alone or with solid foods: A food effect study

Abstract

The lipid emulsion Fabuless (Olibra) has been shown in some studies to decrease short/medium term energy intake (EI) and prevent weight regain. The purported mechanism is the ileal brake. Whether Fabuless is efficacious under a range of dietary conditions is unknown since studies have administered the emulsion within a fermented, semi-liquid dairy yoghurt, and outcomes have been inconsistent. To determine whether Fabuless suppresses post-ingestive satiety and short-term food intake under a range of dietary conditions and forms we administered the emulsion co-presented with 185mL water, stirred into a semi-liquid dairy yoghurt, and co-presented with a solid food breakfast muffin. This was a cross-over study in 18 lean men randomised to 6 treatments: (i) lipid emulsion, LE (15g Fabuless, containing 4.2g lipid, 0.2MJ)+water, (ii) lipid control, LC (15g non-emulsified lipid/water, containing 4.2g lipid, 0.2MJ)+water, (iii) lipid emulsion+yoghurt, LE+Y (1.2MJ), (iv) lipid control+yoghurt, LC+Y (1.2MJ), (v) lipid emulsion+muffin, LE+M (1.2MJ), (vi) lipid control+muffin, LC+M (1.2MJ), each given as a test breakfast at 8.30am. Participants rated postprandial appetite sensations using visual analogue scales (VAS), and ad libitum energy intake was measured at a lunch meal 3.5h later. The lipid emulsion increased fullness compared with an energy-matched lipid control but only when administered within the semi-liquid fermented yoghurt (P<0.05). There were no effects on satiety ratings when co-presented with water or with the solid food muffin. Energy and macronutrient intake were not significantly decreased by any of the emulsion treatments. We conclude that effects are small, the format in which lipid emulsions are consumed influences postprandial satiety, and there is no evidence that this emulsion alters eating behaviour at the subsequent meal.