Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.

A significant contributor to the rising rates of human obesity is an increase in energy intake. The 'protein leverage hypothesis' proposes that a dominant appetite for protein in conjunction with a decline in the ratio of protein to fat and carbohydrate in the diet drives excess energy int...

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Main Authors: Alison K Gosby, Arthur D Conigrave, Namson S Lau, Miguel A Iglesias, Rosemary M Hall, Susan A Jebb, Jennie Brand-Miller, Ian D Caterson, David Raubenheimer, Stephen J Simpson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025929&type=printable
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author Alison K Gosby
Arthur D Conigrave
Namson S Lau
Miguel A Iglesias
Rosemary M Hall
Susan A Jebb
Jennie Brand-Miller
Ian D Caterson
David Raubenheimer
Stephen J Simpson
author_facet Alison K Gosby
Arthur D Conigrave
Namson S Lau
Miguel A Iglesias
Rosemary M Hall
Susan A Jebb
Jennie Brand-Miller
Ian D Caterson
David Raubenheimer
Stephen J Simpson
author_sort Alison K Gosby
collection DOAJ
description A significant contributor to the rising rates of human obesity is an increase in energy intake. The 'protein leverage hypothesis' proposes that a dominant appetite for protein in conjunction with a decline in the ratio of protein to fat and carbohydrate in the diet drives excess energy intake and could therefore promote the development of obesity. Our aim was to test the 'protein leverage hypothesis' in lean humans by disguising the macronutrient composition of foods offered to subjects under ad libitum feeding conditions. Energy intakes and hunger ratings were measured for 22 lean subjects studied over three 4-day periods of in-house dietary manipulation. Subjects were restricted to fixed menus in random order comprising 28 foods designed to be similar in palatability, availability, variety and sensory quality and providing 10%, 15% or 25% energy as protein. Nutrient and energy intake was calculated as the product of the amount of each food eaten and its composition. Lowering the percent protein of the diet from 15% to 10% resulted in higher (+12±4.5%, p = 0.02) total energy intake, predominantly from savoury-flavoured foods available between meals. This increased energy intake was not sufficient to maintain protein intake constant, indicating that protein leverage is incomplete. Urinary urea on the 10% and 15% protein diets did not differ statistically, nor did they differ from habitual values prior to the study. In contrast, increasing protein from 15% to 25% did not alter energy intake. On the fourth day of the trial, however, there was a greater increase in the hunger score between 1-2 h after the 10% protein breakfast versus the 25% protein breakfast (1.6±0.4 vs 25%: 0.5±0.3, p = 0.005). In our study population a change in the nutritional environment that dilutes dietary protein with carbohydrate and fat promotes overconsumption, enhancing the risk for potential weight gain.
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spelling doaj-art-e5174e1db3af4fde94adc5309ea1cd6e2025-08-20T03:09:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-01-01610e2592910.1371/journal.pone.0025929Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.Alison K GosbyArthur D ConigraveNamson S LauMiguel A IglesiasRosemary M HallSusan A JebbJennie Brand-MillerIan D CatersonDavid RaubenheimerStephen J SimpsonA significant contributor to the rising rates of human obesity is an increase in energy intake. The 'protein leverage hypothesis' proposes that a dominant appetite for protein in conjunction with a decline in the ratio of protein to fat and carbohydrate in the diet drives excess energy intake and could therefore promote the development of obesity. Our aim was to test the 'protein leverage hypothesis' in lean humans by disguising the macronutrient composition of foods offered to subjects under ad libitum feeding conditions. Energy intakes and hunger ratings were measured for 22 lean subjects studied over three 4-day periods of in-house dietary manipulation. Subjects were restricted to fixed menus in random order comprising 28 foods designed to be similar in palatability, availability, variety and sensory quality and providing 10%, 15% or 25% energy as protein. Nutrient and energy intake was calculated as the product of the amount of each food eaten and its composition. Lowering the percent protein of the diet from 15% to 10% resulted in higher (+12±4.5%, p = 0.02) total energy intake, predominantly from savoury-flavoured foods available between meals. This increased energy intake was not sufficient to maintain protein intake constant, indicating that protein leverage is incomplete. Urinary urea on the 10% and 15% protein diets did not differ statistically, nor did they differ from habitual values prior to the study. In contrast, increasing protein from 15% to 25% did not alter energy intake. On the fourth day of the trial, however, there was a greater increase in the hunger score between 1-2 h after the 10% protein breakfast versus the 25% protein breakfast (1.6±0.4 vs 25%: 0.5±0.3, p = 0.005). In our study population a change in the nutritional environment that dilutes dietary protein with carbohydrate and fat promotes overconsumption, enhancing the risk for potential weight gain.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025929&type=printable
spellingShingle Alison K Gosby
Arthur D Conigrave
Namson S Lau
Miguel A Iglesias
Rosemary M Hall
Susan A Jebb
Jennie Brand-Miller
Ian D Caterson
David Raubenheimer
Stephen J Simpson
Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.
PLoS ONE
title Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.
title_full Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.
title_fullStr Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.
title_full_unstemmed Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.
title_short Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study.
title_sort testing protein leverage in lean humans a randomised controlled experimental study
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025929&type=printable
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