No appetite efficacy of a commercial structured lipid emulsion in minimally processed drinks

Background/Objectives: Fabuless (Olibra) is a commercially structured lipid emulsion, claimed to be a food ingredient that is effective for food intake and appetite reduction. The present study assessed its efficacy in a yoghurt-based mini-drink undergoing low or minimal food manufacturing (thermal and shear) processes. Subjects/Methods: Study 1: Twenty-four healthy volunteers (16 female, 8 male; age: 18–47 years; body mass index (BMI): 17–28 kg m−2) took part in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel crossover trial. Consumption of a minimally processed ‘preload’ mini-drink (containing two different doses of Fabuless or a control fat) at 2 h after breakfast was followed by appetite and mood ratings, and food intake measured in ad libitum meals at 3 and 7 h post consumption of the preload. Study 2: As Study 1 (16 female, 8 male; age: 20–54 years; BMI: 21–30 kg m−2). A chilled, virtually unprocessed, preload breakfast mini-drink (containing minimally processed Fabuless or a control fat) was provided 5 min after a standardised breakfast, followed by appetite and mood ratings, and food intake measured in ad libitum meals at 4 and 8 h post consumption of the preload. Results: The structured lipid emulsion tested had no significant effect on the primary measures of food intake or appetite. Conclusions: Even when exposed to minimal food-manufacturing conditions, Fabuless showed no efficacy on measures of appetite and food intake.