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.

  • Paper
  • Published:

The effect of addition of modified guar gum to a low-energy semisolid meal on appetite and body weight loss

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 307–315 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of addition of modified guar gum (GG) to a low-energy semisolid meal on appetite and body weight (BW) loss.

SUBJECTS: Twenty eight mainly overweight male volunteers (age, 19–56 y; body mass index, 29±2 kg m−2; BW, 89.4±9.2 kg).

DESIGN: Baseline of one week with self-selected diet. Three treatments of 2 weeks with a low-energy diet divided over three times a day, consisting of a semisolid meal with (SSM+) or without GG (SSM) or a solid meal (SM) with the same energy content (947 kJ) and macronutrient composition, and a dinner of the subject's own choice. Washout periods lasted 4 weeks.

RESULTS: Compared to baseline values, reduction in energy intake and BW loss were similar for SSM+, SSM and SM. Appetite (hunger, desire to eat or estimation of how much one could eat) was increased in SSM and in SM compared to baseline, but not in SSM+. Satiety and fullness in SSM+, SSM and SM were similar to baseline. Any intervention was more effective on BW loss when it took place the first time compared to the second and third times (2.6±0.2 kg, 1.7±0.2 kg and 1.1±0.2 kg, respectively; P<0.001). The SM–SSM+–SSM sequence was more effective on BW loss compared to the SSM+–SSM–SM sequence (5.6±1.0 and 2.5±0.6 kg, respectively; P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: All the three treatments were equally effective with respect to BW loss. GG addition to a semisolid meal prevented an increase in appetite, hunger and desire to eat, which increase was present in the other treatments. However, differences between treatments were not statistically significant. The order effect shows that repeated 2-week bouts of dieting become increasingly ineffective. The sequence SM–SSM+–SSM was more effective than the sequence SSM+–SSM–SM, probably because compliance was relatively higher with the SSM+ or SSM diet, and compliance decreased towards the end of the complete experiment.

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. Seidell JC . Obesity in Europe Obes Res 1995 3 (Suppl 2): 249s–259s.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Noppa H . Body weight change in relation to incidence of ischemic heart disease and change in risk factors for ischemic heart disease Am J Epidemiol 1980 111: 693–704.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hubert HB, Feinleib M, McNamara PM, Castelli WP . Obesity as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease: a 26-year follow-up of participants in the Framingham Heart Study Circulation 1983 67: 968–977.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kromhout D . Body weight, diet, and serum cholesterol in 871 middle-aged men during 10 y of follow-up (the Zutphen Study) Am J Clin Nutr 1983 38: 591–598.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Doucet E, Imbeault P, St-Pierre S, Alméras N, Mauriège P, Richard D, Tremblay A . Appetite after weight loss by energy restriction and a low-fat diet-exercise follow-up Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000 24: 906–914.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Astrup A, Vrist E, Quaade F . Dietary fiber added to very low calorie diet reduces hunger and alleviates constipation Int J Obes 1990 14: 105–112.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Stevens J . Does dietary fiber affect food intake and body weight? J Am Diet Assoc 1988 88: 939–942, 945.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Blundell JE, Burley VJ . Satiation, satiety and the actiuon of fibre on food intake Int J Obes 1987 11 (Suppl 1): S9–S25.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Burley VJ, Blundell JE . Action of dietary fiber on the satiety cascade. In: Kritchevsky D, Bonfield C, Anderson JW (eds) Dietary fiber: chemistry, physiology, and health effects Plenum Press: New York 1990. pp 227–246.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Evans E, Miller DS . Bulking agents in the treatment of obesity Nutr Metab 1975 18: 199–203.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Pasman WJ, Wauters M, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Saris WHM . Effect of one week of fibre supplementation on hunger and satiety or energy intake Appetite 1997 29: 77–87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Harju E . Increases in meal viscosity caused by addition of guar gum decrease postprandial activity and rate of emptying of gastric contents in healthy subjects Panminerva Med 1985 27: 125–128.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wilmshurst P, Crawley JCW . The measurement of gastric transit time in obese subjects using 24Na and the effects of energy content and guar gum on gastric emptying and satiety Br J Nutr 1980 44: 1–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Blackburn NA, Holgate AM, Read NW . Does guar gum improve post-prandial hyperglycemia in humans by reducing small intestinal contact area? Br J Nutr 1984 52: 197–204.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Blackburn NA, Redfern JS, Jarjis H, Holgate AM, Hanning I, Scarpello JHB, Johnson IT, Read NW . The mechanism of action of guar gum in improving glucose tolerance in man Clin Sci 1984 66: 329–336.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Leeds AR . Dietary fiber: mechanism of action Int J Obes 1987 11 (Suppl 1): S3–S7.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tuomilehto J, Voutilainen E, Huttunen J, Vinni S, Homan K . Effect of guar gum on body weight and serum lipids in hyper-cholesterolemic females Acta Med Scand 1980 208: 45–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Krotkiewski M . Effect of guar gum on body weight, hunger ratings and metabolism in obese subjects Br J Nutr 1984 52: 97–105.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hylander B, Rössner S . Effects of dietary fiber intake before meals on weight loss and hunger in a weight-reducing club Acta Med Scand 1983 213: 217–220.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Solum TT, Ryttig KR, Solum E, Larsen S . The influence of high-fibre diet on body weight, serum lipids and blood pressure in slightly overweight persons. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation with diet and fibre tablets (Dumovital) Int J Obes 1987 11 (Suppl 1): S67–S71.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rössner S, Zweigbergk D von, Öhlin A, Ryttig K . Weight reduction with dietary fibre supplements. Results of two double-blind randomized studies Acta Med Scand 1987 222: 83–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Rössner, Andersson I-L, Ryttig K . Effects of a dietary fibre supplement to a weight reduction programme on blood pressure. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study Acta Med Scand 1988 223: 353–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ryttig KR, Tellnes G Hægh L, Bøe E, Fagerthun H . A dietary fibre supplement and weight maintenance after weight reduction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled long-term trial Int J Obes 1989 13: 165–171.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schoeller DA, Santen E v, Peterson DW, Diez W, Jaspan J, Klein PD . Total body water measurement in humans with 18O and 2H labeled water Am J Clin Nutr 1980 33: 2686–2693.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Marken Lichtenbelt WD van, Westerterp KR, Wouters L . Deuterium dilution as a method for determining total body water: effect of test protocol and sampling time Br J Nutr 1994 72: 491–497.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Stunkard AJ, Messick S . The three-factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition, and hunger J Psychosom Res 1985 29: 71–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Rolland V, Wilson SAJ, Westerterp, KR . Satiety related to 24 h diet-induced thermogenesis during high protein/carbohydrate vs high fat diets measured in a respiration chamber Eur J Clin Nutr 1999 53: 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Herman CP, Polivy J . Restrained eating. In: Stunkard AJ (ed) Obesity. W.B. Saunders: Philadelphia 1980. pp 208–225.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Stichting Nederlands Voedingsstoffenbestand Nevo Tabel Den Haag, Voorlichtingsbureau voor de voeding 1996.

  30. Goris AHC, Westerterp KR . Underreporting of habitual food intake is explained by undereating in highly motivated lean women J Nutr 1999 129: 878–882.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Fjeld CR, Brown KH, Schoeller DA . Validation of the deuterium oxide method for measuring average daily milk intake Am J Clin Nutr 1988 48: 671–679.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Westerterp KR, Kayser B, Brouns F, Herry JP, Saris WHM . Energy expenditure climbing Mt Everest J Appl Physiol 1992 73: 1815–1819.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Goris AHC, Westerterp KR . Improved reporting of habitual food intake after confrontation with earlier results on food reporting Br J Nutr 2000 83: 363–369.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Goldstein DJ . Beneficial effects of modest weight loss Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1992 16: 397–415.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Gaal LF van, Wauters MA, Leeuw IH de . The beneficial effets of modest weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1997 21 (Suppl 1): S5–S9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Porikos K, Hagamen S . Is fiber satiating? Effects of a high fiber preload on subsequent food intake of normal-weight and obese young men Appetite 1986 7: 153–162.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Rydning A, Berstad A, Berstad T, Hertzenberg L . The effect of guar gum and fiber-enriched wheat bran on gastric emptying of a semisolid meal in healthy subjects Scand J Gastroenterol 1985 20: 330–334.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lavin JH, Read NW . The effect on hunger and satiety of slowing the absorption of glucose: relationship with gastric emptying and postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses Appetite 1995 25: 89–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Meier R, Beglinger C, Schneider H, Rowedder A, Gyr K . Effect of a liquid diet with and without soluble fiber supplementation on intestinal transit and cholecystokinin release in volunteers J Parenteral Enteral Nutr 1993 17: 231–235.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Nieuwenhoven MA van, Kovacs EMR, Martin A-M, Brummer R-JM, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Brouns F . The effect of different dosages of guar gum on the rate of gastric emptying and intestinal transit of a consumed semisolid meal J Am Coll Nutr 2000, (in press.

  41. Kovacs EMR, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Saris WHM, Melanson KJ, Goossens I, Geurten P, Brouns F . The effect of guar gum addition to a semisolid meal on appetite and blood parameters Am J Clin Nutr 2000 (submitted.

  42. Hamilton CC, Anderson JW . Fiber and weight maintenance J Fla Med Assoc 1992 79: 379–381.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Uusitupa M, Siitonen O, Savolainen K, Silvasti M, Penttilä I, Parviainen M . Metabolic and nutritional effects of long-term use of guar gum in the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes of poor metabolic control J Clin Nutr 1989 49: 345–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Pasman WJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Muls E, Vansant G, Ree J van, Saris WHM . The effectiveness of long-term fiber supplementation on weight maintenance in weight-reduced women Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1997 21: 548–555.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Simons LA, Gayst S, Balasubramaniam S, Ruys J . Long-term treatment of hypercholesterolaemia with a new palatable formulation of guar gum Atherosclerosis 1982 45: 101–108.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Florent C, Flourie B, Leblond A, Rautureau M, Bernier J-J, Rambaud J-C . Influence of chronic lactulose ingestion on the colonic metabolism of lactulose in man (and in vivo study) J Clin Invest 1985 75: 608–613.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Goris AHC, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Westerterp KR . Undereating and underrecording of habitual food intake in obese men: selective underreporting of fat intake Am J Clin Nutr 2000 71: 130–134.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Kempen KPG, Saris WHM . Determinants of weight maintenance in women after diet-induced weight reduction Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998 22: 1–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Allison DB, Zannolli R, Faith MS, Heo M, Pietrobelli A, Van Itallie TB, Pi-Sunyer FX, Heymsfield SB . Weight loss increases and fat loss decreases all-cause mortality rate: results from two independent cohort studies Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999 23: 603–611.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Westerterp, KR, Donkers JHHLM, Fredrix EWHM, Boekhoudt P . Energy intake, physical activity and body weight: a simulation model J Nutr 1995 73: 337–347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Novartis Consumer Health Ltd, Nyon, Switzerland.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    EMR Kovacs, MS Westerterp-Plantenga, WHM Saris, I Goossens, P Geurten & F Brouns

Authors
  1. EMR Kovacs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. MS Westerterp-Plantenga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. WHM Saris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I Goossens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P Geurten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. F Brouns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to EMR Kovacs.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kovacs, E., Westerterp-Plantenga, M., Saris, W. et al. The effect of addition of modified guar gum to a low-energy semisolid meal on appetite and body weight loss. Int J Obes 25, 307–315 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801546

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801546

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links