Oral Exposure and Sensory-specific Satiety

Satiety has been shown after oral exposure to food that was chewed but not eaten (Modified Sham Feeding (MSF)). The aim of the study was to explore the role of sensory-specific satiety (SSS) in satiety development with MSF. Subjects were studied on three test days in a randomized crossover design; they received, in random order, water, MSF, or a meal. At the start and the end of each course of the lunch condition subjects evaluated appetite sensations, taste perception and pleasantness of taste using Visual Analogue Scales. SSS was present when eating soup and salad. SSS also occurred with MSF of salad. When eating the soup no significant changes in appetite ratings occurred. Hunger decreased and satiety increased while the salad was eaten (p<0.0004). In this condition taste perception did not change significantly and a decrease in pleasantness coincided with an increase in satiety. During the MSF salad taste perception changed, i.e. creaminess and intensity increased (p<0.05 and p<0.02, respectively). When the salad was eaten satiety increased and hunger and desire to eat (DTE) decreased. Chewing the salad resulted only in a decrease in DTE. In this experiment merely chewing a salad produced SSS. We conclude that when SSS takes place during feeding, it is related to an increase in satiety, and a decrease in hunger and DTE. With SSS during MSF, satiety does not increase, nor does hunger decrease, yet DTE decreases. Thus MSF is sufficient for a sensory decrease in DTE despite of lack of satiety.