WEIGHT-REDUCTION WITH SUCROSE OR SWEETENE R CONTAINING REDUCTION DIETS

To compare the influence of reduction diets (5000 kJ/d for 21 days) co ntaining sucrose and artificial sweeteners (cyclamate/saccharin) on en ergy metabolism and body composition, a clinical blind study was condu cted in 20 randomly selected female patients after a three days' adapt ation phase. The patients received a mixed diet in which 17% of total energy were supplied by protein, 23% by fat and 60% by carbohydrates. The diets which wart: isoenergetic, had the same carbohydrate and nitr ogen contents and were of equal sweetness, had been arranged and prepa red in a dietetic kitchen under the supervision of an experienced diet itian. Different effects of the two reduction diets were not observed. Weight reduction was identical in both groups. Body weight decreased by 4.3 +/- 1 kg and 4.1 +/- 0.7 kg, resp., body fat by 2.6 +/- 1.1 kg and 2.4 +/- 1.0 kg, resp., Hence about 60% of weight loss were loss of fat. Basal energy turnover decreased with either dirt by about 10% (7 20 kJ/d). There were no indications of a cephalic insulin reflex or of a sweetener related reactive hypoglycemia. Sensation of hunger after the rest meats was the same in both groups. Reduction diets containing artifical sweeteners, as compared to isoenergetic diets containing su crose, do not result in a stronger reduction of the energy turnover no r in reduced weight loss.