Author(s): GIRO, R.1,2, TEIXEIRA, V.H.1, REBELO, P.2, BORGES, N.1, BRITO, J.2, Institution: UNIVERSITY OF PORTO, Country: PORTUGAL, Abstract-ID: 2287

INTRODUCTION:
Food intake sequence can impact postprandial glucose (PPG) concentrations in patients with diabetes and healthy individuals. Lower PPG rises and dips are associated with decreased subsequent hunger and energy intake. However, no studies to date have targeted athletes or recreationally active individuals, despite their high carbohydrate (CHO) requirements and the role of CHO on metabolic health and exercise performance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of food intake sequence on PPG and appetite perceptions in recreationally active adults.
METHODS:
In a randomized crossover counterbalanced design, 10 healthy recreationally active individuals (5 men, 5 women; 22–41 yrs; 21.8±2.5 kg/m2; 4.7±3.1 h/week of exercise) consumed an identical, isocaloric meal in either of two intake sequences: CHO-first or CHO-last. Orange juice, white bread with jam and banana were consumed before or after a high-protein yoghurt and almonds over 15 min. The test-meal was high in CHO (1.59±0.11 g/kg), moderate in protein (0.44±0.03 g/kg), low in fat (0.16±0.01 g/kg) and low in fibre (5.9–6.8 g). Finger-prick capillary blood glucose and appetite ratings on 100-mm visual analogue scales were measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min after the start of the meal. Friedman test with Bonferroni post-hoc was performed to explore differences between food intake sequences over time. Paired t and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare time series summary statistics [total area under the curve (tAUC), incremental AUC (iAUC), peak and time to peak]. Spearman rho assessed partial correlations controlling for condition, time, sex, and order effects.
RESULTS:
Participants were normal glucose tolerant [4.8±0.5 mmol/L of fasting blood glucose (<5.6 mmol/L) and 6.1±0.8 mmol/L of 2-h PPG during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (<7.8 mmol/L)]. Baseline and PPG concentrations were not different between food intake sequences (pairwise comparisons, peak, time to peak, tAUC, iAUC x 120 and 180 min, p>0.05). Desire to eat something salty was greater after consumption of the CHO-first vs. the CHO-last meal pattern (iAUC: 1428 [263–3403] vs. 3876 [780–6881] mm x 120 min, p<0.05). Blood glucose was moderately positively correlated (p<0.001) with satiety (rs=0.577), fullness (rs=0.583), desire to eat something salty (rs=0.457) and savoury (rs=0.522); moderately negatively correlated (p<0.001) with hunger (rs=-0.561) and prospective food consumption (rs=-0.615); poorly positively correlated with desire to eat something sweet (rs=0.385; p<0.001), and very poorly positively correlated with desire to eat something fatty (rs=0.169; p<0.05).
CONCLUSION:
Blood glucose was associated with appetite perceptions in healthy, recreationally active individuals. Food intake sequence influenced the desire for specific food types in the hours after a meal. Further research is warranted on the effects of eating order on the health and performance of recreationally active and athletic populations.