Evaluation of satiety enhancement, including compensation, by blends of gum arabic. A methodological approach.

In the present study a potential satiating effect by two blends of gum arabic (EmulGold(®) (EG) and PreVitae(®) (PV)) was investigated in healthy humans applying a regression analysis on the change of values throughout the interval of the study. Two studies were thus conducted: a feasibility study using doses between 10 and 40 g and a dose-finding study of 5 or 10 g of only EG. The gums were dissolved in 250 ml of water (negative control). In both studies energy intake was determined 3 h after consumption, while Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were recorded every 30 min from the time of consumption onwards. At doses of 40 g both EG and PV yielded a significant reduction in energy intake of more than 100 and 200 kcal, respectively. At doses of 10 or 20 g the reduction in energy intake amounted to more than 100 kcal for both. The second study demonstrated a significant reduction in caloric intake of more than 60 kcal at doses of 5 and 10 g of EG. With respect to the subjective perception of satiety, VAS scores revealed a significant increase as compared to the negative control of all doses of both gums. The regression analysis was sensitive in identifying not only the intensity of the perception during the time interval of the study but also the change in this intensity over time. The results of this study show that both blends of gum arabic are able to decrease the caloric intake significantly 3 h after consumption, and increase subjective ratings of feeling satiated, and could therefore be used in a dietary approach to control body weight development.

Gum arabic establishes prebiotic functionality in healthy human volunteers in a dose-dependent manner.

The present study was undertaken to determine the prebiotic efficacy of gum arabic upon consumption by man for up to 4 weeks and, if any, to establish the dose-effect relationship. Human healthy volunteers consumed various daily doses (5, 10, 20, 40 g) of gum arabic (EmulGold) in water for up to 4 weeks. Daily consumption of water was taken as the negative control and that of 10 g inulin as the positive control. At 0, 1, 2 and 4 weeks quantification of bacterial numbers in stool samples was performed via real time-PCR techniques and questionnaires were filled in to account for potential drawbacks. The genera of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli were taken as potentially beneficial bacteria and those of Bacteroides, Clostridium difficile and Enterococci as potentially non-beneficial, this distinction was dependent on the issue of these numbers being or becoming out of balance in the host. Compared with the negative control the numbers of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli 4 weeks after consumption were significantly higher for gum arabic: the optimal dose being around 10 g. Moreover, at this dose the numbers of Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli and Bacteroides were significantly higher for gum arabic than for inulin. No significant drawback was encountered during the study. It is concluded that gum arabic establishes prebiotic efficacy, at least as good as inulin. The optimal daily dose was found to be 10 g.

Physicochemical characterization of konjac glucomannan.

Four commercial konjac glucomannan (KGM) samples and a glucomannan derived from yeast were characterized by aqueous gel permeation chromatography coupled with multi angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS). Disaggregation of aqueous glucomannan solutions through controlled use of a microwave bomb facilitated reproducible molar mass distribution determination alleviating the need for derivatization of the polymer or the use of aggressive solvents. Further characterization was undertaken by use of capillary viscometry and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The weight average molecular masses (M(w)) determined were in the region of 9.0 +/- 1.0 x 10(5) g mol(-1) for KGM samples and 1.3 +/- 0.4 x 10(5) g mol(-1) for the yeast glucomannan. The values determined for KGM in aqueous solution are in agreement with those reported for KGM in aqueous cadoxen. The degradation of samples observed upon autoclaving has been quantified by GPC-MALLS and intrinsic viscosity determination, allowing comparison with reported Mark-Houwink parameters. Shear flow experiments were undertaken for a range of KGM solutions of concentration 0.05 to 2.0% using a combination of controlled stress and controlled strain rheometers. The concentration dependence of the zero shear specific viscosity was determined by analysis of the data using the Ellis model. The dependence of the zero shear specific viscosity on the coil overlap parameter was defined and interpretation discussed in terms of the Martin and Tuinier equations.