For those trying to maintain a sensible diet in the quest to lose weight, between-meal bouts of hunger can prove to be a formidable challenge, especially when it comes to keeping one’s energy balanced. Satiety—maintaining an energy balance while feeling full—is a global problem and the market is ripe for product addressing the niche. In fact, Euromonitor estimated that the 2009 market for food, beverage and supplement weight management products was valued at $3.64 billion in the US. In Western Europe, the market was estimated to be worth more than $1 billion.

 

A team of researchers recently set out to learn whether a Danone brand low-fat yogurt enriched with protein and fiber could help in the quest for short-term appetite reduction.

 

The researchers conducted two randomized, cross-over  studies in which healthy women consumed a mid-morning snack that was either the test yogurt or the control yogurt. The test yogurt was Shape Lasting Satisfaction, a product formulated with 8 gram of protein and 2.6-2.9 grams of guar gum fiber per serving.

 

According to lead study author, Anne Lluch, PhD, of Danone Research’s Vitalinea Health Benefit Group in Palaiseau, France, Danone’s dairy R&D team has been involved in the appetite and satiety field for more than five years, so the study was a logic extension of their ongoing work. “Managing appetite is indeed a key area of interest, particularly among people who are trying to manage their weight,” she said. “This study was designed to evaluate the effects of these ingredients within a dairy matrix.”
 

Study 1 recorded subjective feelings of “hunger,” “fullness,” “desire to eat” and “prospective consumption” throughout the morning, along with sensory and hedonic ratings.

 

In Study 2, subsequent food intake at lunch was measured two hours following the consumption of the yogurt snack.

 

In both studies, the researchers reported that the test yogurt induced a 16% reduction in appetite score, as well as a corresponding reduction of subjective appetite (all ratings), compared to the non-enriched control product. “Such concordance, despite differences in methodology and design, suggests these findings are robust and reliable,” the researchers wrote.

 

The researchers found the test yogurt reduced subjective appetite compared to the control product and lunchtime food intake was also reduced, thus the Danone product was deemed to have a positive effect on the reduction of short-term appetite.

“We were pleased to see that at relatively low amounts, compared to the existing literature, the study showed a satiating effect after the consumption of one serving,” commented Dr. Lluch. She added that no additional studies are currently planned for the product.

She declined to speculate on how the study conclusions might impact yogurt sales, but said Danone remains “committed to bringing better-for-you and tasty foods, such as Satisfaction, for the enjoyment of consumers.”

 

Shape Lasting Satisfaction yogurt is sold in two incarnations: Shape Zer0% (fat and sugar-free) and Shape Greek Style. Though widely available in Europe, the Shape brand yogurts are not currently available in the U.S. When asked about the likelihood of the yogurt making a state-side appearance for health-conscious American consumers, Dr. Lluch said, “Danone is constantly assessing different products that could meet the needs and likes of our consumers. But we cannot comment specifically on any launch on a specific country.”

 

The study, supported by Danone Research, involved four of its France-based researchers as well as a U.K. advisor to the company. It was published in the Journal of Food Quality and Preference (Lluch, A., et al. “Short-term appetite-reducing effects of a low-fat dairy product enriched with protein and fibre.”)