The effect of high and low-fibre breakfasts on hunger, satiety and food intake in a subsequent meal

Abstract

Twenty normal weight female volunteers divided into high and low restraint groups consumed breakfast meals of high and low-fibre content (12.0 g and 3.0 g fibre respectively) on two separate occasions. Visual analogue scales were used to record hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and a measure of prospective consumption for 21/2 hours after each meal. At this point, a tray of pre-weighed lunch foods was offered and subjects were requested to eat as much or as little as they desired. The two breakfast meals (of equal weight) were based on toast, breakfast cereal, milk, butter and orange marmalade. No significant difference in energy intake at lunch was found after the high and low fibre breakfasts, or between the restraint groups. There was no significant difference between ratings after the high and low-fibre meals except for fullness, which was greater after the high-fibre breakfast. The effect of fibre overall, was relatively weak compared to the differences between the two restraint groups, with the high restraint group consistently expressing significantly less hunger before, during and after the breakfasts compared to the low restraint group.