Effect of Beverages Containing Different Doses of Alginate Fibers on Appetite, Energy Intake and Glycemia

Studies report that dietary fiber intake is inversely correlated with body weight gain. Previously, we have shown alginate fiber supplementation increases weight loss, which we ascribe to its satiating effct.Alginate is a major plant dietary fiber in brown seaweed. One property of importance to appetite is the ability of alginate to gel in the acidic environment of the stomach. We hypothesize that the alginate will decrease the feeling of hunger and lower food consumption compared to control. Here we test three different beverages in a double-blinded crossover design, in which 24 participants will be randomly assigned to the sequence of the test days separated by at least 5 days. On each test day appetite sensation as well as blood glucose and insulin will be measured over 4h after intake of the test product. Hereafter, an ad libitum meal consisting of Pasta Bolognese will be served, and energy intake calculated. The participants will also rate gastrointestinal confort.