Study: Fabuless® Didnt Sustain Processing

OXFORD, EnglandResearchers found unprocessed Fabuless® (from DSM Nutritional Products) modestly reduced food intake, but did not decrease appetite in a study published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010 Sep 22. DOI:10.1038/ejcn.2010.187). They also reported the ingredient was not robust to common food-manufacturing processes such as thermal and shear processing.

To investigate the feasibility of Fabuless (previously called Olibra and Reducal) as a food ingredient for food intake and appetite reduction, researchers lead by HJ Smit, Functional Food Centre, Oxford Brookes University, assessed the effects of food processing on efficacy. In total, 24 healthy volunteers (16 female, eight male; age: 18 to 43 years; body mass index (BMI): 18 to 37 kg/m²) took part in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cross-over trial. Subjects drank a yogurt-based meal replacement drink (containing processed or unprocessed Fabuless, or a control fat) and then were allowed to eat as much lunch and dinner as they wanted.

Compared with control, only unprocessed Fabuless reduced subsequent energy intake, although only during dinner (P<0.01; control, processed and unprocessed: 4.3, 3.9 and 4.2 MJ, respectively) and not during lunch (3.6, 3.7 and 3.6 MJ). Self-reported appetite scores did not differ between treatments.

Claims on reduced food intake and appetite relating to this ingredient in food products are, therefore, only valid if functionality has been demonstrated after all relevant processing and storage steps," the researchers concluded.