The appetite-suppressing supplement was developed in England and Scotland and it’s called Inulin-Propionate Ester. It was found to only affect cravings for foods that are high in calories.
Inulin-Propionate, developed by researchers from the University of Glasgow and the Imperial College in London, is made from inulin, a type of fiber, that contains propionate. Propionate is a molecular compound that microbiota releases into the intestines. In turn, signals are sent to the brain to make the person feel full.
Researchers already knew that eating inulin could increase the production of propionate, but they’d also shown that they could trigger gut bacteria to produce more than two times the amount of propionate. They did this by modifying inulin to contain propionate.
Scientists have already tested out the supplement on 20 volunteers. The results showed that they experienced less cravings for junk food and they ate smaller portions.
Volunteers were given either a milkshake that contained 10 grams of inulin propionate ester or regular inulin on its own. Afterwards, they went in an MRI scanner while they were shown photos of high or low calories foods. Those who drank inulin-propionate ester had less activity in the reward sections of their brain than the control group. This was only when they were shown photos of foods that are high in calories.
Dr. Douglas Morrison, author of the paper from University of Glasgow, said the study illustrates very nicely that the signals produced by gut microbiota are important for food choice and for regulating the appetite. He added that the study sheds new light on how health, diet and gut microbiome are linked.
The study was published in July in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The supplement is not yet available and the results of the study must be replicated and the links between the compound and cravings have to be firmly established.
