Soluble fiber may help shed 1.5kg in 12 weeks: Roquette study

Daily consumption of soluble fiber may boost feelings of fullness and lead to measurable reductions in body weight, says a new study from Roquette using its Nutriose ingredient.

According to findings published in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, supplementation of fruit juice with the soluble fiber produced an average weight loss of 1.5 kg over 12 weeks of study with overweight Chinese men.

A spokesperson for Roquette told NutraIngredients-USA that the current study is part of a series of clinical trials initiated by the company to demonstrate satiety/weight management effects of its Nutriose-branded fiber.

In addition to the study in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, another clinical study has been performed and confirmed the effects of Nutriose at lower dosages (8-24 grams per day).

“We are very pleased to announce that our article dealing about the effects of Nutriose on satiety with time- and dose-responses relationship has been accepted for publication,” said the spokesperson. Further details are unavailable until publication.

Fiber market growth

According to a report from Packaged Facts last year, consumer interest in dietary fiber has been growing with scientific studies linking increased intake to reduced risks of cancers such as colorectal and cardiovascular disease, digestive health benefits and weight management.

A 2008 International Food Information Council survey found 77% of people are proactively trying to consume additional fiber.

Despite such good intentions, however, many Americans only achieve about 50% of their recommended amount of 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily.

Study details

The new study supports the potential weight management potential of soluble fiber. One hundred and twenty overweight men were randomly assigned to consume fruit juice supplemented with 17 grams of either Nutriose or maltodextrin (control) for 12 weeks. The participants consumed the juice twice a day to provide a daily dose of 34 grams.

Results showed that men who drank the Nutriose beverage had an average body weight loss of 1.5 kg, an average body mass index (BMI) reduction of 0.5 kg/m2, and lost an average of 0.3% of their body fat percentage, compared with the control group.

In addition, men who drank the Nutriose-supplemented drink reported less hunger across the study period, compared with men in the control group.

How?

Commenting on the potential mechanisms of action, the researchers note that the viscosity of the fiber may slow gastric emptying, which would extend the feeling of fullness. Slowed gastric emptying may also produce hormonal responses, they added.

Another potential mechanism involved the fermentation of the fiber in the colon, as this may produce specific effects on satiety and glycemia through the release of short chain fatty acids and gut peptides such as glucagon-like peptide-1.

“Future trials of Nutriose should examine the effect of lower dosages of this dextrin and determine the smallest effective dose required for body composition improvements,” wrote the researchers from Roquette, Tongji University Medical College (China), and Sprim Advanced Life Sciences in San Francisco.

“A distinct limitation of this trial was that daily fiber intake was not collected. It is possible that because the typical Chinese diet is rich in fiber, the effects of Nutriose supplementation may have been amplified.

“Clinical trials that enroll subjects who consume low amounts of fiber may yield a different physiological benefit

“Although there is no strong evidence that dietary fiber consumption has different effects by gender or race, further study of the effects of Nutriose in women and across different races is recommended,” they added.

Weight Management 2011

Satiety and appetite is one of several topics to be covered in the upcoming Weight Management 2011 virtual event. Hosted by NutraIngredients-USA.com, the event is free to attend. Click here for more information and to register.

Source: International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

September 2011, Volume 62, Issue 6, Pages 628-635

“Effects of Nutriose dietary fiber supplementation on body weight, body composition, energy intake, and hunger in overweight men”

Authors: L. Guerin-Deremaux, S. Li, M. Pochat, D. Wils, M. Mubasher, C. Reifer, L.E. Miller