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Integration of sweet taste and metabolism determines carbohydrate reward

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posted on 2023-06-09, 07:19 authored by Maria Geraldine Veldhuizen, Richard Keith Babbs, Barkha Patel, Wambura Fobbs, Nils B Kroemer, Elizabeth Garcia, Martin YeomansMartin Yeomans, Dana M Small
Post-ingestive signals related to nutrient metabolism are thought to be the primary drivers of reinforcement potency of energy sources. Here, in a series of neuroimaging and indirect calorimetry human studies, we examine the relative roles of caloric load and perceived sweetness in driving metabolic, perceptual and brain responses to sugared beverages. Whereas caloric load was manipulated using the tasteless carbohydrate maltodextrin, sweetness levels were manipulated using the non-nutritive sweetener sucralose. By formulating beverages that contain different amounts of maltodextrin+sucralose, we demonstrate a non-linear association between caloric load, metabolic response and reinforcement potency, which is driven in part by the extent to which sweetness is proportional to caloric load. In particular, we show that (1) lower calorie beverages can produce greater metabolic response and condition greater brain response and liking than higher calorie beverages and (2) when sweetness is proportional to caloric load greater metabolic responses are observed. These results demonstrate a non-linear association between caloric load and reward and describe an unanticipated role for sweet taste in regulating carbohydrate metabolism, revealing a novel mechanism by which sugar-sweetened beverages influence physiological responses to carbohydrate ingestion.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Current Biology

ISSN

0960-9822

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

16

Volume

27

Page range

2476-2485

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-07-20

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-08-10

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-07-20

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