June 22/Tienen, Belgium/European Congress on Obesity -- Taking a prebiotic-enriched supplement twice daily helps increase satiety and reduce caloric intake in overweight and obese individuals, according to a new study presented at the 18th European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul.
Researchers at the University of Ulster in Ireland conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention study that included 36 overweight or obese men and women volunteers, each receiving 6g of oligofructose-enriched inulin twice daily at breakfast and lunch as a supplement dissolved in a beverage, or a placebo for three weeks. Energy intake was assessed at the beginning and end of each treatment phase; appetite ratings were evaluated through visual analogue scales (VAS). They found the intake resulted in a significantly lower energy intake in all subjects (-3.6%), and when stratified by gender, this result was even more apparent in women.