Impact of Dietary Protein and Gender on Food Reinforcement.

ABSTRACT: Recent evidence suggests that increasing dietary protein may alter reward-driven eating behavior. However, the link between protein and food reinforcement is not known. We sought to determine the extent to which increasing dietary protein alters food reinforcement in healthy adults. In a randomized crossover study, 11 women (age = 25 ± 7 years; Body Mass Index (BMI) = 21 ± 2 kg/m²) and 10 men (age = 22 ± 2 years; BMI = 24 ± 2 kg/m²) consumed normal (15%) and high (30%) protein meals. Food reinforcement was assessed using a computer-based choice task (operant responding with concurrent log₂(x) reinforcement schedules) 4 h after lunch. We found that food reinforcement was greater in men than women (p < 0.05) and greater for sweet than savory snack foods (p < 0.02). Gender interacted with die

SUBMITTER: Casperson SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5622717 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature