London: If you love eating junk food but want to stop that craving for such high-calorie foods as chocolate, cake and pizza, scientists have found a way for you.
According to scientists from Imperial College London (ICL) and the University of Glasgow in the UK, eating a kind of powdered food supplement called inulin-propionate ester may reduce your craving for mouth-watering desserts.
A new study suggested, such a powered food supplement, based on a molecule produced by bacteria in the gut, are of great help to reduce such craving for junk food.
Scientist told around 20 volunteers to consume a milkshake that either contained an ingredient called inulin-propionate ester or a type of fibre called inulin.
The results of previous studies have showed that bacteria in the gut release a compound called propionate when they digest the fibre inulin, which can signal to the brain to reduce appetite.
However the inulin-propionate ester supplement releases much more propionate in the intestines than inulin alone.
After drinking the milkshakes, the participants in the current study underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, where they were shown pictures of various low or high calorie foods such as salad, fish and vegetables or chocolate, cake and pizza.
Those who drank the milkshake containing inulin-propionate ester had less activity in areas of their brain linked to reward - but only when looking at the high calorie foods.
These areas, called the caudate and the nucleus accumbens, found in the centre of the brain, have previously been linked to food cravings and the motivation to want a food.
The volunteers also had to rate how appealing they found the foods. The results showed when they drank the milkshake with the inulin-propionate ester supplement they rated the high calorie foods as less appealing.
In a second study, volunteers were given a bowl of pasta with tomato sauce, and asked to eat as much as they like.
When participants drank the inulin-propionate ester, they ate 10 per cent less pasta than when they drank the milkshake that contained inulin alone.
After drinking the milkshakes, the participants in the current study underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, where they were shown pictures of various low or high calorie foods such as salad, fish and vegetables or chocolate, cake and pizza.
Those who drank the milkshake containing inulin-propionate ester had less activity in areas of their brain linked to reward - but only when looking at the high calorie foods.
These areas, called the caudate and the nucleus accumbens, found in the centre of the brain, have previously been linked to food cravings and the motivation to want a food.
The volunteers were also told to rate how appealing they found the foods. The results showed when they drank the milkshake with the inulin-propionate ester supplement they rated the high calorie foods as less appealing.
(With Agency input)
