HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Smeets, P. A. Articles by van der Grond, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Smeets, P. A. Articles by van der Grond, J. Agricola Articles by Smeets, P. A. Articles by van der Grond, J.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of human hypothalamic responses to sweet taste and calories ^1,2,3

¹ From the Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands (PAMS, MJPvO, and JvdG) and the Department of Food and Chemical Risk Analysis, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist, Netherlands (PAMS, CdG, and AS)

Background: Evidence exists that beverages do not trigger appropriate anticipatory physiologic responses, such as cephalic phase insulin release. Therefore, it is of interest to elucidate the food properties necessary for triggering adaptive responses. Previously, we found a prolonged dose-dependent decrease in the hypothalamic functional magnetic resonance imaging signal after ingestion of a glucose solution.

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to measure the effects of sweet taste and energy content on the hypothalamic response to glucose ingestion and to measure the concomitant changes in blood glucose and insulin concentrations.

Design: Five healthy, normal-weight men participated in a randomized crossover design trial. The subjects were scanned 4 times for 37 min on separate days with functional magnetic resonance imaging. After 7 min, they ingested 1 of the following 4 stimuli (300 mL of each): water (control), a glucose solution, an aspartame (sweet taste) solution, or a maltodextrin (nonsweet carbohydrate) solution.

Results: Glucose ingestion resulted in a prolonged and significant signal decrease in the upper hypothalamus (P < 0.05). Water, aspartame, and maltodextrin had no such effect. Glucose and maltodextrin ingestions resulted in similar increases in blood glucose and insulin concentrations. However, only glucose triggered an early rise in insulin concentrations. Aspartame did not trigger any insulin response.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both sweet taste and energy content are required for a hypothalamic response. The combination of sweet taste and energy content could be crucial in triggering adaptive responses to sweetened beverages.

Key Words: Functional magnetic resonance imaging • hypothalamus • glucose • insulin • aspartame • maltodextrin • taste • carbohydrates • men

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. D Mattes and B. M Popkin Nonnutritive sweetener consumption in humans: effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2009; 89(1): 1 - 14. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Vidarsdottir, P. A.M. Smeets, D. L. Eichelsheim, M. J.P. van Osch, M. A. Viergever, J. A. Romijn, J. van der Grond, and H. Pijl Glucose Ingestion Fails to Inhibit Hypothalamic Neuronal Activity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes, October 1, 2007; 56(10): 2547 - 2550. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. M. Smeets, S. Vidarsdottir, C. de Graaf, A. Stafleu, M. J. P. van Osch, M. A. Viergever, H. Pijl, and J. van der Grond Oral glucose intake inhibits hypothalamic neuronal activity more effectively than glucose infusion Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, September 1, 2007; 293(3): E754 - E758. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]