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Sweet taste: effect on cephalic phase insulin release in men
K L Teff1, J Devine, K Engelman
1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Physiology & Behavior
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Sweet taste alone, from nutritive or nonnutritive sweeteners, does not trigger cephalic phase insulin release (CPIR) in humans. Only a modified sham-feed with food, like apple pie, significantly increased insulin levels.
Area of Science:
- Human Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Cephalic phase insulin release (CPIR) is the anticipatory release of insulin triggered by the sight, smell, or taste of food.
- The role of sweet taste in eliciting CPIR, independent of caloric intake, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sweet-tasting solutions, including nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners, can effectively elicit CPIR in humans.
- To compare the insulin response to sweet stimuli versus a food-based sham-feed.
Main Methods:
- Two studies involved normal weight men sipping and spitting water, aspartame, saccharin, and sucrose solutions for 1 or 3 minutes.
- A modified sham-feed with apple pie served as a positive control.
- Plasma insulin levels were measured via arterialized venous blood draws over a 30-minute period post-stimulus.
Main Results:
- No significant increases in plasma insulin were observed after exposure to sweet-tasting solutions (aspartame, saccharin, sucrose) in either study.
- Significant increases in plasma insulin occurred following the modified sham-feed with apple pie, regardless of tasting duration (1 or 3 minutes).
Conclusions:
- Nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners, when tasted without ingestion, are insufficient stimuli to elicit cephalic phase insulin release in humans.
- The sensory experience of food, beyond mere sweetness, is likely required to trigger CPIR.
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