Effects of a High-Protein/Moderate-Carbohydrate Diet on Appetite, Gut Peptides, and Endocannabinoids—A Preview Study

• Main Authors: Lea Tischmann, Mathijs Drummen, Blandine Gatta-Cherifi, Anne Raben, Mikael Fogelholm, Bolette Hartmann, Jens J. Holst, Isabelle Matias, Daniela Cota, Ronald P. Mensink, Peter J. Joris, Margriet S. Westerterp-Plantenga, Tanja C. Adam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-09-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: Protein; endocannabinoids; hunger; satiety; gut peptides; weight maintenance; obesity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/10/2269

Favorable effects of a high-protein/moderate-carbohydrate (HP/MCHO) diet after weight loss on body weight management have been shown. To extend these findings, associations between perception of hunger and satiety with endocannabinoids, and with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and polypeptide YY (PYY) were assessed. At approximately 34 months after weight loss, 22 female and 16 male participants (mean age 64.5 &#177; 5.9 years; body mass index (BMI) 28.9 &#177; 3.9 kg/m²) completed a 48 h respiration chamber study. Participants were fed in energy balance with a HP/MCHO diet with 25%:45%:30% or a moderate-protein/high-carbohydrate (MP/HCHO) diet with 15%:55%:30% of energy from protein:carbohydrate:fat. Endocannabinoids and related compounds, relevant postprandial hormones (GLP-1, PYY), hunger, satiety, and ad libitum food intake were assessed. HP/MCHO versus MP/HCHO reduced hunger perception. The lower decremental area under the curve (dAUC) for hunger in the HP/MCHO diet (&#8722;56.6% compared to MP, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) was associated with the higher AUC for 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) concentrations (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Hunger was inversely associated with PYY in the HP/MCHO group (r = &#8722;0.7, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). Ad libitum food intake, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and incremental AUCs for gut peptides were not different between conditions. HP/MCHO versus MP/HCHO diet-induced reduction in hunger was present after 34 months weight maintenance in the post-obese state. HP/MCHO diet-induced decrease of hunger is suggested to interact with increased 2-AG and PYY concentrations.