Investigating acute satiation and meal termination effects of a commercial lipid emulsion: A breakfast meal study.

Background: Early clinical studies showed the commercial lipid emulsion Fabuless™ to decrease energy intake (EI) and prevent weight regain, but later studies have failed to confirm this finding. Where appetite suppression has been observed it is commonly attributed to the ileal brake, where emulsified fats pass undigested to the distal small intestine and promote later satiety, but satiety profiles suggest possible transient effects within 15 min. The aim of this study was to determine whether this emulsion promotes short-term satiation and meal termination.

Methods: In a randomised cross-over intervention 18 lean men were given 4 lipid preloads immediately prior to a breakfast meal, during which ad libitum food consumption, time to meal termination and VAS-rated appetite scores were measured. Preloads were given as lipid emulsion and lipid control, both alone as a 'shot' and combined with a dairy yoghurt: (i) lipid emulsion alone (LE, Fabuless™ 4.2g lipid, 0.2MJ), (ii) lipid control alone (LC, 4.2g lipid, 0.2 MJ), (iii) LE+yoghurt (1.2 MJ), (iv) LC+yoghurt (1.2MJ).

Results: Whilst both yoghurt preloads suppressed EI at breakfast relative to the 'shots', as expected, neither lipid emulsion suppressed EI or triggered more rapid meal termination when compared to energy matched lipid controls (P>0.05). There was also no difference in VAS-assessed appetite scores between emulsion and control, for either preload.

Conclusions: When consumed with a meal there was no evidence in lean men that this commercial lipid emulsion promotes satiation or suppresses short-term food intake.