Formulation and Evaluation of a Satiety-inducing Carbonated Beverage that Forms a Bubble-containing Gel in the Stomach

Abstract

We developed a beverage that forms a gel containing gas bubbles in the stomach and induces satiety. In a preliminary experiment, we confirmed that when a carbonated beverage containing any one of three types of ionic polysaccharides was mixed with artificial gastric juice, it resulted in the formation of a gel containing gas bubbles. Among the three types of polysaccharides referenced above, low methoxyl pectin (LM pectin) was identified as being the optimal for preparation of the test beverage in this study. Both static evaluation using a vessel and dynamic evaluation using the Gastric Digestion Simulator (GDS) revealed that the volume of the bubble-containing gel remained relatively stable with time. Presence of the bubble-containing gel in the stomach following consumption of the carbonated beverage containing LM pectin was confirmed in a clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) study. Consumption of this test beverage resulted in a greater increase of the intragastric volume than consumption of the same amount of water. Moreover, in the satiety questionnaire, the subjects reported a higher degree of satiety following consumption of the beverage than following consumption of an equal amount of water. These results indicate that when this test beverage, a carbonated beverage containing LM pectin that forms a bubble-containing gel in the stomach, is consumed, the stomach becomes distended, inducing a feeling of satiety.

Effects of the Type of Pectin and Concentration of Citric Acid on Digestive Behavior of a Bubble-containing Gel: Evaluation Using a Human Gastric Digestion Simulator

“…Although the experiment in this study was an in vitro experiment, it was possible to identify factors influencing the size of the bubble-containing gel and its volumeretention capacity in the stomach. This is the first case were able to find a pectin (Pectin B) that produced a larger-volume gel, with longer retention of the expanded volume, than the pectin (Pectin A) used in a previous study [10]. By using GDS, we were able to comprehensively identify an excellent type of pectin for gel formation.…”

“…Among these, the human Gastric Digestion Simulator (GDS) [12][13][14] stalsis, and allows direct observation of the digestive process in real time. In vitro experiments using the GDS have confirmed that the bubble-containing gel formed by this beverage expanded to a significant degree and showed no disintegration even under the influence of peristalsis, and the volume decrease was suppressed [10]. It also confirmed that the gel volume changed dynamically.…”

“…Recently, for preventing obesity, a carbonated beverage containing low-methoxyl pectin (LM pectin) that expands and forms a bubble-containing gel in the stomach was developed. In the clinical trial, it was confirmed that participants who consumed this beverage felt satiety [10]. Appetite is suppressed by consuming this beverage and it is possible that obesity is also prevented.…”

Gastrointestinal Distension by Pectin-Containing Carbonated Solution Suppresses Food Intake and Enhances Glucose Tolerance via GLP-1 Secretion and Vagal Afferent Activation

“…ISF and its control solution were prepared according to the methods reported by Domoto et al. with minor modifications ( 31 ). Citric acid monohydrate (200 mg), sodium hydroxide (400 mg), and LM pectin (1,850 mg) were mixed and dissolved in 43 ml of purified water.…”

“…However, this method restricts the experimental protocol to a larger size of experimental animals and use of anesthesia (26)(27)(28)(29)(30). In the present study, to expand upper gastrointestinal tract we used the carbonated solution containing low methoxyl (LM) pectin, named as inflating stomach formulation (ISF), which forms stable gel bubbles under acidic condition in the stomach and inflates the stomach in humans (Table 1) (31). We firstly examined whether ISF induces gastrointestinal distension, GLP-1 secretion, and vagal afferent activation.…”