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Postprandial gum chewing enhances diet-induced thermogenesis in men
Healthy men who chewed gum immediately after a meal for 15 minutes saw increased postprandial energy expenditure vs. men who consumed 3 kcal sugar with the meal, according to study findings.
Yuka Hamada, of the Graduate School of Decision Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and colleagues analyzed data from 12 healthy, normal-weight men asked to consume a 621-kcal test meal of spaghetti, yogurt and orange juice on four different occasions each separated by more than 3 days. During two slow-eating trials, researchers asked the men to chew for as long as possible, chewing gum at a natural pace for 15 minutes after one meal trial and consuming 3 kcal sugar with the meal for the other. Researchers asked the men to consume meals as rapidly as possible for the two rapid-eating trials; the two rapid trials also included either chewing gum or consuming 3 kcal sugar with the meal. Researchers calculated diet-induced thermogenesis based on oxygen uptake, BMI and postprandial increments in energy expenditure above the baseline.
Researchers found that diet-induced thermogenesis was significantly greater in the gum-chewing trials than in the nongum-chewing trials for both rapid-eating and slow-eating studies. In the rapid-meal study with gum chewing, differences were observed for a mean of 45 minutes after the meal, whereas differences were observed for 15 to 45 minutes after the slow-eating trial with gum chewing. The increase in diet-induced thermogenesis by postprandial gum chewing ranged from 6 kcal to 8 kcal, according to researchers.
“Slow eating can be difficult for individuals to accomplish, since the natural eating speed is acquired over a long period of time,” the researchers wrote. “In contrast, gum chewing seems to be easy for individuals. This study showed that postprandial gum chewing enhanced [diet-induced thermogenesis]. Still, gum chewing did not exceed the increase in [diet-induced thermogenesis] after slow eating. Thus, slow eating can be more helpful for weight management ... though the postprandial gum chewing certainly increased [diet-induced thermogenesis].” – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.