Effect of protein status on brain reward responses to food cues
2013
Griffioen-roose, S. | Smeets, P.A.M. | Van Den Heuvel, E. | Boesveldt, S. | Graaf, C. de
Protein is an indispensable component within the human diet. Following a protein deficit, food preferences change to restore adequate protein status. We investigated the concomitant changes in brain responses to food cues associated with protein. A randomized cross-over design was used, consisting of two 16-day fully controlled dietary interventions involving consumption of individualized, isoenergetic menus providing either 0.6gprotein/kg BW/day (low-protein diet ∼7en% derived from protein), or 2.2gprotein/kg BW/day (high-protein diet ∼25en%). The interventions were followed by a 1-day ad libitum-phase, where energy and protein intake were measured. Brain responses to odour and visual food cues varying in taste (sweet/savoury) and protein content (high/low) were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-four healthy, unrestrained females participated (age: 22±2y; BMI: 22.4±1.8kg/m2). Protein intake was 8% higher after the low-compared with the high-protein diet (95g vs. 103g, p<0.05), whereas total energy intake did not differ. When exposed to odour and visual food cues, brain activation in reward-related areas (orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, insula) was higher after the low- compared with the high-protein diet. Specifically, when exposed to savoury food cues, brain activation was higher in the OFC. The protein content of food cues did not affect brain activation differently. In conclusion, human protein intake appears to be controlled in a very specific manner involving food selection guided by taste quality rather than by protein content. We are the first to provide neural evidence for changes in food preference driven by macronutrient depletion.
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