Using Sensory Cues to Optimise the Satiety Value of a Reduced-Calorie Product Labelled 'Healthier Choice'.

Reformulation strategies to reduce the energy density of commonly consumed foods and beverages are intended to support weight management, but expectations generated by labelling these as 'healthier' alternatives can have unintended effects on the product's sensory evaluations and consumption behaviours. We compared the impact of four different strategies for presenting a lower-calorie beverage to consumers on product perceptions, short-term appetite and energy intake. Participants ( = 112) consumed higher- (211 kcal/portion) and lower-calorie (98 kcal/portion) fixed-portion soymilks in the morning across two test days, with the lower-calorie version presented in one of four contexts varying in label information and sensory quality: (1) sensory-matched/unlabelled, (2) sensory-matched/labelled, (3) sensory-reduced (less sweet and creamy)/labelled, and (4) sensory-enhanced (sweeter and creamier)/labelled.

Breakfast consumption modulates postprandial glycaemic, insulinaemic and NEFA response in pre-diabetic Asian males.

Breakfast consumption is associated with a variety of nutritional and lifestyle-related health outcomes. The objective of the present study was to investigate how the consumption of breakfast affected blood glucose, insulin and NEFA profiles. A lower postprandial blood glucose, insulin and NEFA response is associated with a lower risk of development of metabolic diseases.

Differential Effects of Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fats on Satiety and Gut Hormone Responses in Healthy Subjects.

The difference between fat saturation on postprandial hormone responses and acute appetite control is not well understood. The aim of this study was to compare the postprandial ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) response and subjective appetite responses after isoenergetic high-fat meals rich in either monounsaturated (MUFAs) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in healthy Chinese males. A randomized, controlled, single-blinded crossover study was conducted in 13 healthy Chinese men.

Are Asian foods as "fattening" as western-styled fast foods?

In Asia, the consumption of western-styled fast foods is widely perceived as the cause of the rise in obesity and chronic disease. Twenty-five of the most popular local Asian foods were compared for energy, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol with twenty-nine western-styled fast foods. The comparative analysis showed no significant difference in energy (p = 0.

Effects of Transglutaminase on the Protein Network and In Vitro Starch Digestibility of Asian Wheat Noodles.

Wheat noodles are a staple commonly consumed in Asia, but high intakes have been associated with type 2 diabetes due to its rapid starch digestibility. We hypothesised that protein network-binding via transglutaminase (TG) would form a stronger barrier encapsulating the starch granules to limit enzymatic access and digestion. The amount of glucose release decreased significantly with increasing TG concentration, with a reduction of approximately 16% with 2% TG after 120 min of digestion.

The contribution of texture contrasts and combinations to food acceptance across cultures.

Texture has long been considered an important attribute for food acceptance. However, which specific textural characteristics contribute to overall acceptance of a food is not well understood. It has been suggested that texture contrasts and combinations are a universal feature in giving foods a desirable texture, yet this notion is largely based upon anecdotal data.

Basal Metabolic Rate and Body Composition Predict Habitual Food and Macronutrient Intakes: Gender Differences.

The underlying mechanisms that regulate energy homeostasis and food intake are not fully understood. Moreover, little research has been performed on the relation of body composition with habitual macronutrient intake among free-living populations. Since body composition and energy metabolism differ between males and females, we aimed to determine whether the relationship between body composition and habitual macronutrient intakes is gender-dependent.

Changes in Weight and Substrate Oxidation in Overweight Adults Following Isomaltulose Intake During a 12-Week Weight Loss Intervention: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

Low-glycemic compared to high-glycemic diets have been shown to improve metabolic status and enhance fat oxidation. The randomized, double-blind, controlled intervention study aimed to evaluate the effects of an energy-reduced diet containing isomaltulose (ISO, Palatinose™) versus sucrose (SUC) on body weight loss. Sixty-four healthy overweight/obese adults were allocated to consume either 40g/d ISO or SUC added to an energy-reduced diet for 12 weeks.

Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinemic Effects of the Addition of Aqueous Extracts of Dried Corn Silk, Cumin Seed Powder or Tamarind Pulp, in Two Forms, Consumed with High Glycemic Index Rice.

Several plant-based traditional ingredients in Asia are anecdotally used for preventing and/or treating type 2 diabetes. We investigated three such widely consumed ingredients, namely corn silk (CS), cumin (CU), and tamarind (TA). The aim of the study was to determine the effects of aqueous extracts of these ingredients consumed either as a drink (D) with high-glycemic-index rice or added to the same amount of rice during cooking (R) on postprandial glycemia (PPG), insulinemia (PPI), and blood pressure (BP), over a 3 h measurement period.

Sugars and sweeteners: science, innovations, and consumer guidance for Asia.

Background And Objectives: Rising obesity in Southeast Asia, one consequence of economic growth, has been linked to a rising consumption of energy from added sugars. This symposium, organized by ILSI Southeast Asia, explored regional issues related to dietary sugars and health and identified ways in which these issues could be addressed by regional regulatory agencies, food producers, and the consumer.

Methods And Study Design: Papers on the following topics were presented: 1) current scientific evidence on the effects of sugars and non-caloric sweeteners on body weight, health, and eating behaviors; 2) innovations by food producers to reduce sugar consumption in the region; 3) regional dietary surveillance of sugar consumption and suggestions for consumer guidance.

Molecular, rheological and physicochemical characterisation of puka gum, an arabinogalactan-protein extracted from the Meryta sinclairii tree.

A water-soluble polysaccharide (type II arabinogalactan-protein) extracted from the gum exudate of the native New Zealand puka tree (Meryta sinclairii), was characterised for its molecular, rheological and physicochemical properties. In 0.1 M NaCl, the weight average molecular weight (M) of puka gum is 5.

Impact of Clitoria ternatea (butterfly pea) flower on in vitro starch digestibility, texture and sensory attributes of cooked rice using domestic cooking methods.

The effect of Clitoria ternatea flower (CTE) incorporated into cooked rice using domestic cooking methods on starch digestibility was determined. The incorporation of 1.25% and 2.

Physical and sensory characterisation of noodles with added native and denatured pea protein isolate.

Wheat noodles with added native or denatured pea-protein isolate were characterised for their starch-protein interaction, degree of starch gelatinisation, starch digestibility, textural and sensory properties using light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in vitro digestion, textural profile analysis (TPA) and descriptive analysis respectively. It was hypothesised that denatured proteins with an unfolded structure, would have greater interaction with starch, thereby reducing the extent of gelatinisation and subsequent glucose release compared to native proteins. Results showed that the addition of denatured pea protein to a wheat noodle matrix produced a reduction in in vitro glucose release, which was supported by a lower degree of gelatinisation and greater binding of protein to the starch matrix visually.

Temporal sweetness and side tastes profiles of 16 sweeteners using temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA).

An increase in consumer awareness around the negative health impacts of consuming excess added sugars has led to a rise in the replacement of sucrose in foods and beverages. This replacement is often through the use of low or no calorie sweeteners to reduce total calories while maintaining sweetness and palatability. There are a wide variety of sweeteners with diverse physical and caloric compositions which can be used at concentrations estimated to be equi-sweet to sucrose in food products.

Postprandial glucose, insulin and incretin responses differ by test meal macronutrient ingestion sequence (PATTERN study).

Background: Previous studies have shown that the sequential order of consuming different food components significantly impacts postprandial glucose and insulin excursions in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, but the causative mechanisms in healthy humans remain ill-defined.

Objective: Using a typical Asian meal comprising vegetables, protein (chicken breast), and carbohydrate (white rice), the aim of this study was to examine the effect of food intake sequence on postprandial glucose, insulin and incretin secretions in healthy adults.

Design: Sixteen healthy Chinese adults participated in a randomized, controlled, crossover meal trial.

Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in nonobese Asians.

Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in subjects from the nonobese Asians is not known.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-hour hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-hour mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy nonobese Asian subjects (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.

Association of FTO and ADRB2 gene variation with energy restriction induced adaptations in resting energy expenditure and physical activity.

Background: Energy restriction induces adaptations in resting energy expenditure (REE) and physical activity; inter-individual variability could be ascribed to genetic predisposition. The aim was to examine if changes in REE and physical activity as a result of weight loss were affected by candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Methods: 148 subjects (39 men, 109 women), mean ± SD age: 41 ± 9 year; body mass index (BMI): 31.

Lipoprotein Subclass Profile after Progressive Energy Deficits Induced by Calorie Restriction or Exercise.

Weight loss, induced by chronic energy deficit, improves the blood lipid profile. However, the effects of an acute negative energy balance and the comparative efficacy of diet and exercise are not well-established. We determined the effects of progressive, acute energy deficits (20% or 40% of daily energy requirements) induced by a single day of calorie restriction ( = 19) or aerobic exercise ( = 13) in healthy subjects (age: 26 ± 9 years; body mass index (BMI): 21.

A Comparison of Psychophysical Dose-Response Behaviour across 16 Sweeteners.

Reduction or replacement of sucrose while maintaining sweetness in foods is challenging, but today there are many sweeteners with diverse physical and caloric compositions to choose from. The choice of sweetener can be adapted to match reformulation goals whether these are to reduce calories, lower the glycaemic response, provide bulk or meet criteria as a natural ingredient. The current study sought to describe and compare the sweetness intensity dose-response, sweetness growth rate, sweetness potency, and potential for calorie reduction across 16 different sweeteners including sucrose.

Influence of impending healthy food consumption on snacking: Nudging vs. compensatory behaviour.

The use of nudging, prompts or primes in the environment aligned with desired goals, as a strategy to promote healthy behaviour has gained increasing attention. Yet, the adoption of healthy behaviours may ironically be frustrated by licensing of competing goals for indulgence, producing compensatory unhealthy behaviours. However, little is known of these unintended compensatory effects of "health" nudging, and the conditions in which engagement of healthy behaviours may continue to activate health goals versus compensatory goals for indulgence.

Correlation of instrumental texture properties from textural profile analysis (TPA) with eating behaviours and macronutrient composition for a wide range of solid foods.

Faster eating rates have previously been associated with higher ad libitum energy intakes, and several studies have manipulated eating rates and intake by changing food textures. Food texture based changes to slow eating rates can produce reductions in energy intake without affecting post-meal satisfaction or re-bound hunger. However, an understanding of how specific food textures and instrumental texture properties influence oral processing behaviour remains limited.

The epidemiology of obesity.

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease. The worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity has doubled since 1980 to an extent that nearly a third of the world's population is now classified as overweight or obese. Obesity rates have increased in all ages and both sexes irrespective of geographical locality, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, although the prevalence of obesity is generally greater in older persons and women.

Oxytocin in metabolic homeostasis: implications for obesity and diabetes management.

Oxytocin was once understood solely as a neuropeptide with a central role in social bonding, reproduction, parturition, lactation and appetite regulation. Recent evidence indicates that oxytocin enhances glucose uptake and lipid utilization in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, suggesting that dysfunction of the oxytocin system could underlie the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. Murine studies revealed that deficiencies in oxytocin signalling and oxytocin receptor expression lead to obesity despite normal food intake, motor activity and increased leptin levels.

Android fat as a determinant of metabolic syndrome: Sex differences.

Objectives: Regional fat accumulation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular diseases, yet the results are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between regional fat accumulation and MetS as well as the underlying mechanism in Chinese adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 428 Chinese adults (166 men and 262 women).

Obesity is an independent determinant of elevated C-reactive protein in healthy women but not men.

Background And Aims: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP) has emerged as an inflammatory biomarker to predict metabolic syndrome. Here, we investigate the association of hs CRP with metabolic variables and determine the risks for elevated hs CRP levels in healthy Singaporean adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 225 participants (104 men).