INFLUENCES OF DIETARY AND INTRADUODENAL LIPID ON ALERTNESS, MOOD, ANDSUSTAINED CONCENTRATION

The effects of intraduodenal and dietary lipid on alertness, mood and performance in a task requiring sustained attention were investigated in two studies. The first experiment compared the effect of duodenal i nfusion of either 100 g/l Intralipid (8.36 kJ/min) or isotonic saline (9 g NaCl/l) in paired studies carried out on two non-consecutive days on five male volunteers. Two consecutive 3 h infusions, one of lipid, the other saline, were given blind on each day using a crossover desi gn. Analysis of variance indicated that lipid significantly reduced al ertness (P < 0.05) and affected the speed and accuracy of performance in a sustained attention task (P < 0.05). A second experiment compared the effects on eight male volunteers of two isoenergetic lunches of s imilar appearance, taste and protein content but differing fat and car bohydrate (CHO) contents (fat energy:CHO, 64:18 v. 7:76). Alertness wa s lower (P < 0.05) and responses to stimuli in a sustained attention t ask were slower after the high-fat meal than after the lowfat meal (P < 0.05). In conclusion, infusion of lipid into the small intestine, an d the substitution of fat for carbohydrate while keeping energy and pr otein constant in a lunch, both cause an enhanced postprandial decline in alertness and concentration. This may be related to the presence o f lipid in the small intestine.