Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

The effect of protease inhibitors derived from potato formulated in a minidrink on appetite, food intake and plasma cholecystokinin levels in humans

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 244–250 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Protease inhibitor 2 derived from potato (PI2) is claimed to reduce appetite and food intake, stimulate the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) and lower postprandial glucose peaks when taken before a meal. However, current literature is inconclusive with regard to its efficacy and mechanism. Furthermore, the potential effect of PI2 on appetite motivational ratings without an immediately following meal has not previously been reported.

Objective:

To comprehensively test the effects of 30 mg PI2 in a minidrink on appetite ratings, subsequent food intake, and plasma CCK and glucose responses.

Design:

Minidrinks with or without 30 mg PI2 were compared in three separate substudies (A, B and C), each using a two-way, placebo-controlled, balanced-order, cross-over design and 23 or 24 subjects (mean over groups: body mass index 25.0 kg m−2, range 22.5–30.7 kg m−2; age 41.3, range 18–62 years). The minidrink was given (A) 120 or (B) 30 min before an ad libitum lunch or (C) 30 min before a fixed lunch. Study parameters were self-reported satiety (substudies A and C), ad libitum meal intake (substudies A and B), and (in an n=12 subset) plasma CCK and blood glucose in all substudies. All results were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Protease-inhibitory activity of the PI2-containing minidrinks was assessed under simulated gut conditions.

Results:

PI2 did not differ from control for any study parameters, in any substudy, despite confirmation of the inhibitory activity of PI2.

Conclusions:

In this study protease inhibition using PI2 in a minidrink at a dose of 30 mg, as commercially used, had no (functional) efficacy on a range of behavioral and physiological appetite and intake control measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liddle RA . Regulation of cholecystokinin secretion in humans. J Gastroenterol 2000; 35: 181–187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Peikin SR . Role of cholecystokinin in the control of food intake. Gastroenterol Clin North America 1989; 18: 757–775.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Efficacy of Suprx potato extract. www.jgo.com/jgoleanfusion/images/Suprx/JGO-017-047.pdf. (accessed 15 December 2009).

  4. Slentiva helps manage feelings of hunger. http://www.healthnutrx.com/pdf/Slentiva-manage-hunger.pdf. (accessed 15 December 2009).

  5. Slendesta. http://www.kemin.com/foods. (accessed 15 December 2009).

  6. Hill AJ, Peikin SR, Ryan CA, Blundell JE . Oral-administration of proteinase inhibitor-ii from potatoes reduces energy-intake in man. Physiol Behav 1990; 48: 241–246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vasselli JR, Greenfield D, Schwartz L, Heymsfield SB . Protease inhibitor from potatoes decreases hunger and increases fullness in overweight subjects following a meal. Obesity Res 1989; 7 (Suppl 1) (abstract).

  8. Spiegel TA, Hubert C, Peikin SR . Effect of a premeal beverage containing a protease inhibitor from potatoes on satiety in dieting overweight women. Obesity Res 1989; 7 (Suppl 1) (abstract).

  9. Portman R . Nutritional intervention composition containing a source of proteinase inhibitor extending post meal satiety. Patent US 6838431 2005.

  10. Schwartz JG, Guan D, Green GM, Phillips WT . Treatment with an oral proteinase-inhibitor slows gastric-emptying and acutely reduces glucose and insulin levels after a liquid meal in type-ii diabetic-patients. Diab Care 1994; 17: 255–262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Peikin SR, Springer CJ, Dockray GJ, Calam J . Oral-administration of the protease inhibitor potato-2 stimulates release of cholecystokinin in man. Gastroenterology 1987; 92: 1570.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hu J, Edmondson B, Radosevich J . Potato proteinase inhibitor II exhibits activity in elevating fasting plasma cholecystokinin concentrations. Patent US 2006/0204567 2006.

  13. Van Strien T, Frijters JER, Bergers GPA, Defares PB . The Dutch eating behavior questionnaire (Debq) for assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating behavior. Int J Eating Disorders 1986; 5: 295–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Morgan JF, Reid F, Lacey JH . The SCOFF questionnaire: assessment of a new screening tool for eating disorders. Br Med J 1999; 319: 1467–1468.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stratton RJ, Stubbs RJ, Hughes D, King N, Blundell JE, Elia M . Comparison of the traditional paper visual analogue scale questionnaire with an Apple Newton electronic appetite rating system (EARS) in free living subjects feeding ad libitum. Eur J Clin Nutr 1998; 52: 737–741.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Flint A, Raben A, Blundell JE, Astrup A . Reproducibility, power and validity of visual analogue scares in assessment of appetite sensations in single test meal studies. Int J Obesity 2000; 24: 38–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Pasman WJ, Heimerikx J, Rubingh CM, van den Berg R, O'Shea M, Gambelli L et al. The effect of Korean pine nut oil on in vitro CCK release, on appetite sensations and on gut hormones in post-menopausal overweight women. Lipids Health Dis 2008; 7: 7–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Reseland JE, Holm H, Jenssen T, Jacobsen MB, Hanssen LE . Inhibitor-stimulated nonparallel pancreatic-secretion in man—hormonal and neural regulation. Scand J Gastroenterol 1995; 30: 72–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Fear G, Komarnytsky S, Raskin I . Protease inhibitors and their peptidomimetic derivatives as potential drugs. Pharmacol Therapeutics 2007; 113: 354–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Mineo H, Ishida K, Morikawa N, Ohmi S, Machida A, Noda T et al. Ingestion of potato starch decreases chymotrypsin but does not affect trypsin, amylase, or lipase activity in the pancreas in rats. Nutr Res 2007; 27: 113–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Little TJ, Horowitz M, Feinle-Bisset C . Role of cholecystokinin in appetite control and body weight regulation. Obesity Rev 2005; 6: 297–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hirasawa A, Tsumaya K, Awaji T, Katsuma S, Adachi T, Yamada M et al. Free fatty acids regulate gut incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion through GPR120. Nat Med 2005; 11: 90–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Choi S, Lee M, Shiu AL, Yo SJ, Aponte GW . Identification of a protein hydrolysate responsive G protein-coupled receptor in enterocytes. Am J Physiol 2007; 292: G98–G112.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Choi S, Lee M, Shiu AL, Yo SJ, Hallden G, Aponte GW . GPR93 activation by protein hydrolysate induces CCK transcription and secretion in STC-1 cells. Am J Physiol 2007; 292: G1366–G1375.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Spreadbury D, Shao AE, Essman MK, Sheabar FZ, Geletta S, Larsen B . A proteinaseinhibitor extract from potatoes reduces post-prandial blood glucose in human subjects. J Am Nutr Ass 2003; 6: 29–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Sarah Hull and her colleagues at Leatherhead Food International for conducting the study. We thank Chris Wilson for producing the test drinks. We also thank Diny Knol for the in vitro testing. Research support was provided by Unilever. The PI2 extract (marketed as Slendesta) was supplied by Kemin Health Inc., Des Moines, IA, USA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unilever Research & Development, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands

    H P F Peters, M Foltz, D J Mela, E A H Schuring & S A Wiseman

  2. Unilever, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA

    E M R Kovacs

Authors
  1. H P F Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Foltz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E M R Kovacs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D J Mela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E A H Schuring
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S A Wiseman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H P F Peters.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on International Journal of Obesity website

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peters, H., Foltz, M., Kovacs, E. et al. The effect of protease inhibitors derived from potato formulated in a minidrink on appetite, food intake and plasma cholecystokinin levels in humans. Int J Obes 35, 244–250 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.136

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.136

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links