Daily ingestion of alginate reduces energy intake in free-living subjects

• Published in: Appetite Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 713 - 719
• Main Authors: Paxman, J.R., Richardson, J.C., Dettmar, P.W., Corfe, B.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Adult; adults; Alginate; alginates; Alginates - administration & dosage; Alginates - pharmacology; Appetite; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Calcium; Calcium - chemistry; chemistry; Cross-Over Studies; diet; Dietary Fiber; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Dietary Fiber - pharmacology; dietary supplements; drug effects; Energy intake; Energy Intake - drug effects; Energy Intake - physiology; experimental diets; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Free-living; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Transit; Gastrointestinal Transit - drug effects; gelation; gelling properties; Gels; gender differences; Glucuronic Acid; Glucuronic Acid - administration & dosage; Glucuronic Acid - pharmacology; Hexuronic Acids; Hexuronic Acids - administration & dosage; Hexuronic Acids - pharmacology; human nutrition; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Absorption - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; men; Metabolic diseases; Obesity; Obesity - prevention & control; Obesity - therapy; pharmacology; physiology; Preload; prevention & control; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Single-Blind Method; sodium alginate; soluble fiber; Soluble fibre; stomach; therapy; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight Loss; Weight Loss - drug effects; women; Young Adult; Appetite; Energy intake; Alginate; Preload; Free-living; Soluble fibre; Human; Feeding behavior; Nutrition; Psychology; Alginates; Soluble form; Ingestion; Daily; Energy; Dosage form; Hydrogel; Psychopathology
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2008.06.013

Sodium alginate is a seaweed-derived fibre that has previously been shown to moderate appetite in models of acute feeding. The mechanisms underlying this effect may include slowed gastric clearance and attenuated uptake from the small intestine. In order to assess whether alginate could be effective as a means of appetite control in free-living adults, 68 males and females (BMI range: 18.50–32.81kg/m2) completed this randomised, controlled two-way crossover intervention to compare the effects of 7 day daily ingestion of a strong-gelling sodium alginate formulation against a control. A sodium alginate with a high-guluronate content was chosen because, upon ingestion, it forms a strong gel in the presence of calcium ions. Daily preprandial ingestion of the sodium alginate formulation produced a significant 134.8kcal (7%) reduction in mean daily energy intake. This reduced energy intake was underwritten by significant reductions in mean daily carbohydrate, sugar, fat, saturated fat and protein intakes. The absence of any significant interaction effects between the main effect of preload type and those of gender, BMI classification and/or timing of preload delivery indicates the efficacy of this treatment for individuals in different settings. These findings suggest a possible role for a strong-gelling sodium alginate formulation in the future management of overweight and obesity.