EFFECT OF ZERO CALORIE DRINKS ON SENSORY-SPECIFIC SATIETY

Background
Both the problem of obesity and the fashion for being 'fit' are prompting food manufacturers to reduce the calorie content of products by replacing sugar with substitutes, among others. It is unclear whether these treatments actually reduce the total energy intake. The aim of the study was to determine whether having a meal with a zero calorie sweet drink would induce sensory-specific satiety and lead to a reduced appetite for dessert.

Material and methods
Forty-eight students of the University of Life Sciences in Poznań took part in the study. To determine the significance of the difference in the amount of chocolate consumed when pairing a meal with a zero calorie sweet drink versus sparkling water, a T-test was employed.

Results
The results of the T-test proved that pairing a meal with a zero calorie sweet drink, compared to having it with sparkling water, leads to a lower consumption of chocolate for dessert.

Conclusions
The results of the study would suggest that people who tend to reach for sugary snacks after a meal can reduce their cravings for sweets by drinking a zero calorie drink with their meal. More research is needed to answer the question of whether this type of satiety persists between meals and whether it leads to a later compensation of energy intake, causing a so-called rebound effect. There is also a risk that the side effects of using certain sweeteners in the long term may outweigh the benefits of temporary appetite suppression.