title: Acute tryptophan depletion and sweet food consumption by overweight adults.
abstract: Serotonergic involvement has been implicated in preferential consumption of treat foods. We tested the effect of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on food consumption by overweight and lean adults with and without a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). ATD and taste-matched placebo challenges were administered double-blind in counter-balanced order. Participants were classified as lean (n=36) or overweight (n=19) on the basis of body mass index (BMI). Total calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and sweet food consumption were assessed via a test meal 8-h following ATD. Four food items of comparable palatability were offered as a part of the test: two sweet (one carbohydrate-rich, and one protein-rich) and two non-sweet (one carbohydrate-rich, and one protein-rich). As compared to the placebo challenge, ATD significantly increased sweet calorie intake among overweight participants and increased their propensity to consume sweet food first before any other type of food. Lean participants' sweet calorie intake and food preference were unaffected by ATD. Findings suggest serotonergic involvement in the sweet food consumption by overweight individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. sherry.pagoto@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: Sherry L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pagoto
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McChargue
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hitsman
authors.forename: Malaina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Appelhans
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hedeker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014364:Tryptophan