Preventing gastric sieving by blending a solid/water meal enhances satiation in healthy humans

J Nutr. 2012 Jul;142(7):1253-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.159830. Epub 2012 May 30.

Abstract

Separation of solids and liquids within the stomach allows faster gastric emptying of liquids compared with solids, a phenomenon known as sieving. We tested the hypothesis that blending a solid and water meal would abolish sieving, preventing the early rapid decrease in gastric volume and thereby enhancing satiety. We carried out 2 separate studies. Study 1 was a 2-way, crossover, satiety study of 22 healthy volunteers who consumed roasted chicken and vegetables with a glass of water (1008 kJ) or the same blended to a soup. They completed satiety visual analogue scales at intervals for 3 h. Study 2 was a 2-way, crossover, mechanistic study of 18 volunteers who consumed the same meals and underwent an MRI to assess gastric emptying, gallbladder contraction, and small bowel water content (SBWC) at intervals for 3 h. In Study 1, the soup meal was associated with reduced hunger (P = 0.02). In Study 2, the volume of the gastric contents after the soup meal decreased more slowly than after the solid/liquid meal (P = 0.0003). The soup meal caused greater gallbladder contraction (P < 0.04). SBWC showed a biphasic response with an initial "gastric" phase during which SBWC was greater when the solid/liquid meal was consumed (P < 0.001) and a later "small bowel" phase when SBWC was greater when the soup meal was consumed (P < 0.01). Blending the solid/liquid meal to a soup delayed gastric emptying and increased the hormonal response to feeding, which may contribute to enhanced postprandial satiety.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Appetite Regulation / physiology
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Gallbladder / physiology*
  • Gastric Emptying / physiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Contents*
  • Humans
  • Hunger / physiology*
  • Intestine, Small
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meat
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Muscle, Smooth / physiology
  • Postprandial Period
  • Satiation / physiology*
  • Vegetables
  • Water / physiology*

Substances

  • Water