To date, several clinical studies evaluating the health benefits of thylakoids in humans have been completed by researchers at internationally well-renowned research institutions in Europe and USA, all demonstrating positive results.
In addition, there are six completed animal trials, all of which are positive as well. The study results on humans verify previously published study results on both animals and biochemical mechanisms.
In summary, the studies have shown that thylakoids reduce hunger and cravings by slowing down digestion so that the body’s own systems get time to signal to the brain that we are satisfied. They thereby help us stay satisfied longer, since the digestion process takes longer. A recent study shows that the reduction in hedonic hunger, which we often refer to as cravings for sugar and unhealthy foods or simply eating for pleasure, is a particularly strong effect of thylakoids.
In detail, what the studies have shown is that the thylakoids delay and slow down the digestion and absorption of fats. Through this action, the body’s satiety system is able to work the way it is supposed to: releasing satiety hormones that signal to the brain that we are satisfied.
The thylakoids’ profound effects on appetite control were first discovered by Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson, Professor of Medicine and Physiological Chemistry at Lund University in Sweden. In her own words:
“It is about making use of the time it takes to digest our food. There is nothing wrong with our digestive system, but it doesn’t work well with the modern ‘pre-chewed’ food. The thylakoids extend the digestion, producing a feeling of satiety and reducing hedonic hunger. This means that we are able to stick to the diet we are meant for without snacks and unnecessary foods like sweets, crisps and such.”
The published studies have been conducted at Lund University Biomedical Center in Sweden, and studies waiting to be published are from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, USA, and at the contract research organization Analyze & Realize in Berlin, Germany.
The addition of thylakoids to energy-dense food promotes satiety signals and reduces insulin response during a single meal in man (Köhnke R L. A.-O., 2009). Addition of thylakoids has also been shown to suppress hunger motivation and increase CCK secretion as well as prevent postprandial hypoglycemia (Stenblom et. al. 2013).
More recent studies have further investigated and documented the influence on hedonic hunger. Palatable foods, particularly those high in fat and/or sugar, are often eaten in response to hedonic hunger – they are desirable as much for pleasure and satisfaction as for calories. The feelings generated by such foods reinforce the desire to eat them frequently and the recent publication in Appetite describes how Appethyl® decreases hedonic hunger (Montelius et. al. 2014).