Abstract
Satiety and ghrelin response are influenced by the chewing rate and the macronutrient composition of food. Protein rich foods have been shown to enhance satiety and lead to a prolonged decline in post-prandial ghrelin concentrations. Chewing food slowly may help people feel fuller, however, its effect on hormones remains unclear. Therefore, aim of this study was to assess the effect of chewing time of high-protein meal on satiety and serum ghrelin. In a cross-over study, 22 healthy human participants consumed a high-protein meal with three different chewing rates i.e., normal, fast and slow. Satiety scores and serum ghrelin levels were assessed pre- and post-prandially to determine the effect of chewing time of food on their responses. Satiety scoring was done using visual analogue scale (VAS) for satiety, while serum ghrelin levels were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits. Results show that slow chewing of food significantly decreased feeling of hunger at 90 minutes (P = 0.02) and 120 minutes (P = 0.02). Prospective food intake decreased significantly at 90 minutes (P = 0.01) and 120 minutes (P = 0.02) following slow chewing. Moreover, slow chewing significantly increased feeling of fullness at 90 and 120 minutes (P = 0.05). Similarly, satiety increased significantly after slow chewing at 60 (P = 0.03), 90 (P = 0.02) and 120 minutes (P = 0.05). No effect of chewing time was seen on ghrelin response. Furthermore, ghrelin was not correlated with satiety sensations or chewing time. In conclusion, increasing the chewing time of a high-protein meal significantly increased self-reported feelings of satiety and fullness and, decreased hunger and prospective food consumption. However, chewing time was not associated with change in ghrelin concentrations. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration ID: NCT05822167.
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