Effects of targeted delivery of propionate to the human colon on appetite regulation, body weight maintenance and adiposity in overweight adults.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The colonic microbiota ferment dietary fibres, producing short chain fatty acids. Recent evidence suggests that the short chain fatty acid propionate may play an important role in appetite regulation. We hypothesised that colonic delivery of propionate would increase peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in humans, and reduce energy intake and weight gain in overweight adults.

DESIGN:

To investigate whether propionate promotes PYY and GLP-1 secretion, a primary cultured human colonic cell model was developed. To deliver propionate specifically to the colon, we developed a novel inulin-propionate ester. An acute randomised, controlled cross-over study was used to assess the effects of this inulin-propionate ester on energy intake and plasma PYY and GLP-1 concentrations. The long-term effects of inulin-propionate ester on weight gain were subsequently assessed in a randomised, controlled 24-week study involving 60 overweight adults.

RESULTS:

Propionate significantly stimulated the release of PYY and GLP-1 from human colonic cells. Acute ingestion of 10 g inulin-propionate ester significantly increased postprandial plasma PYY and GLP-1 and reduced energy intake. Over 24 weeks, 10 g/day inulin-propionate ester supplementation significantly reduced weight gain, intra-abdominal adipose tissue distribution, intrahepatocellular lipid content and prevented the deterioration in insulin sensitivity observed in the inulin-control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data demonstrate for the first time that increasing colonic propionate prevents weight gain in overweight adult humans.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:

NCT00750438.

• Authors: Edward S Chambers, Alexander Viardot, Arianna Psichas, Douglas J Morrison, Kevin G Murphy, Sagen E K Zac-Varghese, Kenneth MacDougall, Tom Preston, Catriona Tedford, Graham S Finlayson, John E Blundell, Jimmy D Bell, E Louise Thomas, Shahrul Mt-Isa, Deborah Ashby, Glen R Gibson, Sofia Kolida, Waljit S Dhillo, Stephen R Bloom, Wayne Morley, Stuart Clegg, Gary Frost
• Journal: Gut (Gut) Vol. 64 Issue 11 Pg. 1744-54 (Nov 2015) ISSN: 1468-3288 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25500202 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Chemical References

• Propionates
• Peptide YY
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 1

Topics

• Adiposity (drug effects)
• Appetite Regulation (drug effects)
• Body Weight Maintenance (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Colon (cytology, metabolism)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Overweight (drug therapy)
• Peptide YY (metabolism)
• Propionates (administration & dosage, pharmacology)