The effect of salatrim, a low-calorie modified triacylglycerol, on appetite and energy intake.

BACKGROUND: Salatrim is modified triacylglycerol that is rich in short-chain fatty acids and stearic acid. It is used as a lower-calorie fat replacer. In addition, it has been hypothesized that salatrim's reduced absorption in the small intestine may lead to greater amounts of fat in the gastrointestinal tract, which may decrease appetite and energy intake through the release of appetite-regulating gastrointestinal hormones.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the effects of salatrim and traditional fat on appetite, ad libitum energy intake, and gastrointestinal hormones.

DESIGN: Twenty-two healthy, young, normal-weight men participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Test meals were a traditional fat meal and a salatrim meal with a mixture of traditional fat and salatrim. Visual analogue scales were used to record appetite and well-being every 30 min, and blood was sampled frequently. An ad libitum lunch was served 4.5 h after the test meal.

RESULTS: The salatrim meal increased fullness (P = 0.04) and decreased hunger (P = 0.06) significantly more than did the traditional fat meal. The traditional fat meal increased well-being (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference in ad libitum energy intake or overall energy intake between the 2 test days. No significant differences in blood glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, ghrelin, cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide-1, or peptide YY concentrations were found. A significantly (P = 0.01) smaller increase in free fatty acids was observed after the salatrim meal than after the traditional fat meal.

CONCLUSIONS: Salatrim had a modestly more suppressive effect on appetite than did a traditional fat. Gastrointestinal hormones did not seem to be involved.