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. 2000 May;46(5):688–693. doi: 10.1136/gut.46.5.689

The role of long chain fatty acids in regulating food intake and cholecystokinin release in humans

D Matzinger 1, L Degen 1, J Drewe 1, J Meuli 1, R Duebendorfer 1, N Ruckstuhl 1, M D'Amato 1, L Rovati 1, C Beglinger 1
PMCID: PMC1727908  PMID: 10764713

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS—The mechanism of intraduodenal fat induced inhibition of food intake is still unclear. Therefore, we tested the ability of duodenal fatty acids to suppress food intake at a lunchtime meal; in addition, we were interested to test if these effects were mediated by cholecystokinin (CCK) A receptors.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS—Three sequential double blind, three period crossover studies were performed in 12 healthy males each: (1) subjects received intraduodenal fat with or without 120 mg of tetrahydrolipstatin, an inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases, or saline; (2) volunteers received intraduodenal long chain fatty acids, medium chain fatty acids, or saline; (3) subjects received long chain fatty acids or saline together with concomitant intravenous infusions of saline or loxiglumide, a specific CCK-A receptor antagonist. The effect of these treatments on food intake and feelings of hunger was quantified.
RESULTS—Intraduodenal fat perfusion significantly (p<0.05) reduced calorie intake. Inhibition of fat hydrolysis abolished this effect. Only long chain fatty acids significantly (p<0.05) decreased calorie intake, whereas medium chain fatty acids were ineffective. Infusion of loxiglumide abolished the effect of long chain fatty acids.
CONCLUSIONS—Generation of long chain fatty acids through hydrolysis of fat is a critical step for fat induced inhibition of food intake; the signal is mediated via CCK-A receptors.


Keywords: food intake; long chain fatty acids; medium chain fatty acids; cholecystokinin

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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations in the pre-meal period during intraduodenal (ID) perfusions of MCF, LCF, or saline in 12 healthy male subjects. Data are mean (SEM). **Significant increase in plasma CCK levels during LCF perfusion compared with saline (p<0.01).

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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AUC of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) responses to intraduodenal (ID) perfusion of saline, MCF, or LCF during the pre-meal period in 12 healthy male subjects. Results are mean (SEM). ***Significant difference between ID LCF v ID saline administration (AUC: p⩽0.0001).

Figure 3  .

Figure 3  

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Plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations in the pre-meal period during intraduodenal (ID) perfusion of LCF with intravenous (IV) saline, ID LCF with IV LOX, or ID saline with IV saline in 12 healthy male subjects. Data are mean (SEM). *Significant increase in plasma CCK between ID LCF + IV saline v ID saline + IV saline (p<0.05); ††significant increase in plasma CCK levels between ID saline + IV saline v ID LCF + IV LOX (p<0.01).

Figure 4  .

Figure 4  

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AUC of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) responses to intraduodenal (ID) perfusion of saline with intravenous (IV) infusion of saline, ID LCF with IV saline, or ID LCF with IV LOX during the pre-meal period in 12 healthy male subjects . Results are mean (SEM). **Significant difference between ID saline + IV saline v ID LCF + IV saline (AUC: p<0.01); ††significant difference between ID saline + IV saline v ID LCF + IV LOX (AUC: p<0.005).

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