Effects of intragastric administration of predigested nutrients on food intake, body weight and taste acceptability: potential relevance of the cephalic/neural phase of digestion

Abstract

In this study we analyzed the effect of the intragastric administration of partially digested and natural nutrients on subsequent food intake, body weight and flavor acceptability in rats. The results showed that enterally administered natural nutrients reduced the subsequent ingestion of food to a greater degree compared with the same nutrients in partially digested form. This greater reduction does not appear to be due to a higher nutritional effect of the former, because the body weight of both groups of animals was similar. Animals intragastrically administered with partially digested nutrients developed an acceptance response to a previously paired flavored stimulus, in contrast to animals receiving natural nutrients under the same conditions. These results are interpreted in terms of the cephalic phase of digestion and may be relevant to the treatment of clinical symptoms associated with enteral feeding.