Eating Slowly Increases the Postprandial Response of the Anorexigenic Gut Hormones, Peptide YY and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1

Context: The rate at which people eat has been suggested to be positively associated with obesity, although appetite and related gut hormones have not been measured. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether eating the same meal at varying speeds elicits different postprandial gut peptide responses. Design and Setting: This was a crossover study at a clinical research facility. Study Participants: Seventeen healthy adult male volunteers participated in the study. Intervention: A test meal consisting of 300 ml ice cream (675 kcal) was consumed in random order on two different sessions by each subject: meal duration took either 5 or 30 min. Main Outcome Measures: The postprandial response of the orexigenic hormone ghrelin and the anorexigenic peptides peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1 over 210 min was assessed. Visual analog scales for the subjective feelings of hunger and fullness were completed throughout each session. Results: Peptide YY area under the curve (AUC) was higher after the 30-min meal than after the 5-min meal (mean +/- SEMAUC5 min meal: 4133 +/- 324, AUC30 min meal: 5250 +/- 330 pmol/liter.min, P = 0.004), as was glucagon-like peptide-1 AUC (mean +/- SEM AUC 5 min meal: 6219 +/- 256, AUC 30 min meal: 8794 +/- 656 pmol/liter.min, P = 0.001). There was a trend for higher visual analog scale fullness ratings immediately after the end of the 30-min meal compared with immediately after the 5-min meal. There were no differences in ghrelin response. Conclusions: Eating at a physiologically moderate pace leads to a more pronounced anorexigenic gut peptide response than eating very fast. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 95: 333-337, 2010)