Effects of pure sugar vs. mixed starch fructose loads on food intake

Using a within-subject design, we gave subjects three different 520-530 kcal preloads in the form of puddings in a randomized fashion at weekly intervals. The puddings contained either 50 g of fructose or glucose as the sole carbohydrate source in a protein and fat mixture, or 50 g fructose plus 15 g of starch. Food intake was assessed 2.25 h after the preload was completed. Blood was drawn throughout and assayed for concentrations of glucose and insulin. When the preload contained fructose alone as the sole source of carbohydrate, subjects ate significantly fewer calories and less fat than when the preload contained glucose alone. When starch was added to the fructose preload, there was no significant reduction in calorie and fat intake. Effects on food intake paralleled the rise in plasma insulin levels produced by the different preloads. Implications for use of fructose as an adjunct to weight control efforts are discussed.