Regulating Appetite by Targeting Nutrient Delivery in the Gut

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Dept of Medicine

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has risen rapidly and robustly in the past fifty years due to the easy availability of energy dense foods in a sedentary environment. Targeting the body's appetite-regulating systems to control calorie intake is a novel and consumer friendly approach to weight management. A promising approach is to deliver specific nutrients to the specific site in the gastrointestinal tract where they trigger nutrient sensing circuits which in turn signal to the brain to reduce food intake. We have shown that this gut-brain axis can be manipulated to reduce subsequent food intake. This project aims to demonstrate "molecule to product" capability and examine the potential market for health claims from this and prior work. The evidence generated in the current BBSRC study will support a health claim, and the potential to market satiating products with scientifically proven effects represents a significant commercial opportunity which we wish to develop with Follow-on-Funding.

Publications

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publication icon
Byrne CS (2015) The role of short chain fatty acids in appetite regulation and energy homeostasis. in International journal of obesity (2005)

 
Description We have developed the food with inulin propionate ester
The volunteer studies have been completed
We are currently analysing the results from the studies
We are linking up with an industrial partner
We have the patent for the inulin propionate ester WO2014020344A1 in 2018 we submitted a dossier of novel foods claim
WE are forming a spinout company
Exploitation Route This is offer a potential ingredient that will suppress appetite to the food industry
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Healthcare

 
Description Findings form this study have led to a novel foods application Dossier has been submitted to EFSA for novel food ingredient, for four years we have been answer questions about this - we are still awaiting the outcome The work has resulted in four papers.
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Societal

 
Description Increase colonic propionate as a method of preventing weight gain in young adults
Amount £1,400,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EME/15/185/16 
Organisation NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2018 
End 04/2022
 
Description Commecial Grouping 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Department NERC SUERC CIAF Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This team is commecialing the inulin propionate ester
Collaborator Contribution Finding funding
Impact Interlecual property
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFAR2 signaling 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Expertise in entroendocrine nutrient signaling
Collaborator Contribution Ed Tate- new chemical tools Aylin Hanyaloglu - receptor biology Kevin Murphy - gut hormone physiology
Impact Non at present
Start Year 2016
 
Description Imperial Nestle Collaboration 
Organisation Nestlé (Global)
Department Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences
Country Switzerland 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Developing research partnership
Collaborator Contribution Cutting edge science Knowledge of the market
Impact To early
Start Year 2016
 
Description Metabolite and nutrition partnership 
Organisation Murdoch University
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This partnership will develop links around food metabolomics a food strucutures
Collaborator Contribution The phenome centre at Murdock Univesity will provide anylitical techniques to understand food strucutre
Impact It is too early in the collaberation to have impact
Start Year 2019
 
Description Stable Isotope and Short Chain Fatty Acid Partnership 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This is an academic partnership with Dr Douglas Morrison. He has developed methods using stable isotopes to monitor the metabolic effects on diet. He is also a partner in the SCFA programme
Collaborator Contribution He leads the stable isopote analysis
Impact There are a number of grants and papers that have come from the partnership
Start Year 2010
 
Title Propionate inulin ester 
Description The propionate inulin ester when given to humans reduces appetite and recents weight gain 
IP Reference GB1213629.7 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2012
Licensed No
Impact We have received BBSRC follow on funding to look at commercialisation
 
Title Novel food ingredient dossier submitter 
Description Inulin propionate ester. WE have submitted the dossier for novel foods to the EU. This novel to phase 3 clinical trial 
Type Products with applications outside of medicine
Current Stage Of Development Market authorisation
Year Development Stage Completed 2018
Development Status Under active development/distribution
Impact This is potentially the only therapy for the prevention of weight gain. 
 
Company Name SatisFed 
Description SatisFed develops a food supplement that aims to use gut hormones to suppress appetite. 
Year Established 2022 
Impact Not applicable at the moment
 
Description BBSRC Innovator 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact BBSRC Innovator of the year finalist (with Prof Gary Frost) which involved a open floor discussion with attendees around out innovation - Inulin Propionate Ester.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/people-skills-training/2016/160406-n-innovator-of-the-year-finalists-ann...
 
Description BRIT Pact symposium of Arthritus 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a formal information giving lecture with a question and answer session
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description British Dietetics Association Obesity Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Spoke to expert dietitian about hte potential role of the gut microbiota in dietetic practice
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bda-obesity-group-annual-conference-2020-tickets-69660236643#
 
Description British Nutrition Foundation Annual Lecture 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Presented an update on personalised nutrition to stimulate debated
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.nutrition.org.uk/training-and-events/conference-recordings/#:~:text=The%20British%20Nutr...
 
Description Clinical Mixer 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 50 people listened to a short talk on the role of carbohydrate on health
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Debate at Food Matters Live 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The debate stimulate lots of dicsussion

There has been a number of enquirers form industry interested in SCFA
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.foodmatterslive.com/
 
Description ECNP epert panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop to disseminate the influence of food on central neurological processing
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Exhibition at the Science Museum 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was a display in the Cravings exhibition that highlighted our work on dietary fibre and appetite regulation

There has been a large interest in the area with an large number of email enquires about the topic
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Experimental Biology conference Boston 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Talk sparked discussion

Requests of further information about studies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://experimentalbiology.org/2015/Home.aspx
 
Description FENS conference Dublon 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Spoke to an audance of over 100 one food and the gut covering aspects from many of my awards
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.fens2019.org/
 
Description Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Formal lecture to 150 nutirtional scientist
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://fensforum.org/
 
Description Food digestion meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 400 scientist attended a two day meeting. I present the impact of fermentable carbohydrate on appetite regulation. Good audience feed back
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Food matters live 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 120 people attended a lecture at food matters live. This was dissemination of research findings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.b2match.eu/foodmatterslive2016
 
Description Food of tomorrow Science Museum 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Ran demonstrations of fermentable carbohydrate from a stall at the science museum
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Fructan Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave a lecture and judge the posters. Good feed back at the lecture
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Future Foods Imperial Lates 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Over 4000 people attended the event. We diseminated information about food digestions and new ways to monitor food intake
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/167015/imperial-lates-future-food/
 
Description Great Exibition Road Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We demonstrated how food is digested as the role of the microbiota. This sparked a lot of questions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/160698/great-exhibition-road-festival-2023/
 
Description IAEA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited to participate on an expert panel at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop new stable isotope based tests for gut dysfunction.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description ILSI workshop on fermentation and appetite 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The talk sparked likely debate

Industrial partners consider the use of inulin propionate ester in there products
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.ilsi.org/Pages/HomePage.aspx
 
Description Imperial College Fringe Festival "Food of Tomorrow" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The fringe was a totally food based activity highlighting Imperial's contribution to the food chain. It highlighted out BBSRC and NIHR work.

A large number of people from school children to adults attended each stall
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/festival/fringe/
 
Description Imperial Lates "Food for Thought" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This was a science outreach week focused on food. If gaave feed back from the general public on our research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/lates/food-for-thought/
 
Description Imperial Murdoch Collaberation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a two week research scoping exercise
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Imperial Science Festival - dissemination to general public 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We had a two stands disseminating information in out work on dietary fibre and dietary assessment
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.imperial.ac.uk/festival/about/festival-2017/
 
Description Lecture at British Endocrine Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The presentation stimulated further debate after the talk. I was approached by a number of interested potential collaborators.

The talk raised the issue of short chain fatty acid metabolism in a forum where it hadn't been released before.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.endocrinology.org/meetings/2015/SFEBES2015/index.aspx
 
Description Media interest in propionate inulin ester 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Publication of the Gut paper on inulin propionate ester sparked a lot of media interest

Global coverage of the results from the Gut publication
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015
URL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2868739/Is-powder-secret-making-slim-Supplement-added-brea...
 
Description NFU visit to JIC 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Raise awareness of food structure
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description NIHR Imperial College BRC open day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Over 500 people attended the Imperial College NIHR open day where we demonstrated out work in the NIHR BRC
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://imperialbrc.nihr.ac.uk/2019/09/22/nihr-imperial-research-open-day-friday-15th-november-2019/
 
Description New Frontiers in Food and Drink 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Lecture stimulate interest in the Imperial Glasgow new molecule for appetite suppression. Lots of interest from the 200 business people business people
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.newfrontiersinfoodanddrink.co.uk/
 
Description Nutrition Society Lecture 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 500 people listen to my talk on the role of short chain fatty acids on health
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.nutritionsociety.org/events/spring-conference-2021-gut-microbiome-and-health
 
Description Presentaion to Cambridge metabolic group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact 50 post doctoral scientist attended the workshop on short chain fatty acids. The talk raised a number of questions and suggestion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Quadrum ISP meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This working group was aimed at getting the most out of the Quadram ISP
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://quadram.ac.uk/research_areas/food-innovation-health/
 
Description Rank Prize conference - Designing Food Structure to Control Digestion and Improve Health Impacts 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 60 young scientist attended a week long workshop to understand the role of food structure. The aim was to develop interest in this area
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.rankprize.org/index.php/symposia
 
Description Science Museum Cravings Exhibition 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Exhibition of work on fermentation at the Science Museum

The exhibition has been seen by over 4 million people
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/cravings.aspx
 
Description Visit to Norway to talk to opinion makes about Nutrition 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Talk to 15 Norwegian opinion leaders about the role of Nutrition in the prevention of non communicable disease highlighting my research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Workshop at DAVOS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact 120 people attended a science update at DAVOS. My talk was on the double hit of Malnutritiion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018