The acute effect of D-tagatose on food intake in human subjects

A double-blind randomized crossover study was performed with nineteen norma l-weight men to investigate the effect on subsequent ad libitum food intake of replacing 29 g sucrose with 29 g D-tagatose as sweetener to a breakfast meal. D-Tagatose is a malabsorbed stereoisomer of fructose with potential application as a bulk sweetener. Food intake was measured at lunch offered 4 h after the breakfast meal, during the afternoon with access to abundant snacks, and finally at a supper buffet 9 h after the breakfast. Energy inta ke at lunch and during the snacking period was similar after ingesting the two sugars, while it was 15 % lower after ingesting D-tagatose than with su crose at supper (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal factors such as the osmotic ef fects of unabsorbed D-tagatose causing distension of the gut might have med iated the acute appetite-suppressing effect. The present paper also refers to data from a preceding study in which we observed an increased self-repor ted energy intake after ingestion of D-tagatose compared with sucrose which , in fact, suggests a relative hyperphagic effect of D-tagatose. However, s elf-reported food intake may be biased by selective under-reporting and thi s subsequent study with a more controlled assessment of food intake was the refore conducted. This present study did not support any hyperphagic effect of D-tagatose, but rather suggests that D-tagatose may contribute to a red uced energy intake.