The role of viscosity and fermentability of dietary fibers on satiety- and adiposity-related hormones in rats

Nutrients. 2013 Jun 7;5(6):2093-113. doi: 10.3390/nu5062093.

Abstract

Dietary fiber may contribute to satiety. This study examined the effect of two dietary fiber characteristics, small intestinal contents viscosity and large intestinal fermentability, on satiety-and adiposity-related hormones in rats. Diets contained fiber sources that were non-viscous, somewhat viscous, or highly viscous, and either highly fermentable or non-fermentable, in a 2 × 3 factorial design. In the fed state (2 h postprandial), rats fed non-fermentable fibers had significantly greater plasma GLP-1 concentration than fermentable fibers. In the fasted state, among non-fermentable fibers, viscosity had no effect on GLP-1 concentration. However, among fermentable fibers, greater viscosity reduced GLP-1 concentration. Plasma peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) concentrations in the fasted state were not influenced by the fermentability of the fiber overall, however animals consuming a fructooligosaccharide greater PYY concentration. In both the fed and fasted states, rats fed non-fermentable fibers had a significantly lower plasma ghrelin concentration than rats fed fermentable fibers. In the fasted state, rats fed non-fermentable fibers had a significantly lower plasma leptin concentration than rats fed fermentable fibers. Thus, fermentability and viscosity of dietary fiber interacted in complex ways to influence satiety- and adiposity-related plasma hormone concentrations. However, the results suggest that highly viscous, non-fermentable fibers may limit weight gain and reduce adiposity and non-fermentable fibers, regardless of viscosity, may promote meal termination.

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity*
  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Diet
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism*
  • Fermentation
  • Ghrelin / blood
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / blood
  • Insulin / blood
  • Leptin / blood
  • Male
  • Organ Size
  • Peptide YY / blood
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Satiation*
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Dietary Fiber
  • Ghrelin
  • Insulin
  • Leptin
  • Peptide YY
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1