An extract of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) modulates gut peptide hormone secretion and reduces energy intake in healthy-weight men: a randomized, crossover clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal enteroendocrine cells express chemosensory bitter taste receptors that may play an important role in regulating energy intake (EI) and gut function.

Objectives: To determine the effect of a bitter hop extract (Humulus lupulus L.) on acute EI, appetite, and hormonal responses.

Methods: Nineteen healthy-weight men completed a randomized 3-treatment, double-blind, crossover study with a 1-wk washout between treatments. Treatments comprised either placebo or 500 mg of hop extract administered in delayed-release capsules (duodenal) at 11:00 h or quick-release capsules (gastric) at 11:30 h. Ad libitum EI was recorded at the lunch (12:00 h) and afternoon snack (14:00 h), with blood samples taken and subjective ratings of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, vitality, meal palatability, and mood assessed throughout the day.

Results: Total ad libitum EI was reduced following both the gastric (4473 kJ; 95% CI: 3811, 5134; P = 0.006) and duodenal (4439 kJ; 95% CI: 3777, 5102; P = 0.004) hop treatments compared with the placebo (5383 kJ; 95% CI: 4722, 6045). Gastric and duodenal treatments stimulated prelunch ghrelin secretion and postprandial cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide 1, and peptide YY responses compared with placebo. In contrast, postprandial insulin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, and pancreatic polypeptide responses were reduced in gastric and duodenal treatments without affecting glycemia. In addition, gastric and duodenal treatments produced small but significant increases in subjective measures of GI discomfort (e.g., nausea, bloating, abdominal discomfort) with mild to severe adverse GI symptoms reported in the gastric treatment only. However, no significant treatment effects were observed for any subjective measures of appetite or meal palatability.

Conclusions: Both gastric and duodenal delivery of a hop extract modulates the release of hormones involved in appetite and glycemic regulation, providing a potential "bitter brake" on EI in healthy-weight men.

Keywords: appetite; cholecystokinin; energy intake; ghrelin; glucagon-like peptide 1; glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide; hops; insulin; pancreatic polypeptide; peptide YY.