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Influences of dietary and intraduodenal lipid on alertness, mood, and sustained concentration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Anita S. Wells ,
Nicholas W. Read  and
Angus Craig
Anita S. Wells
Affiliation:
Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S7 5AU
Nicholas W. Read
Affiliation:
Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S7 5AU
Angus Craig
Affiliation:
MRC/ESRC Social and Applied Psychology Unit, University of Sheffield, Mushroom Lane, Sheffield, S10 2TN
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Abstract

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The effects of intraduodenal and dietary lipid on alertness, mood and performance in a task requiring sustained attention were investigated in two studies. The first experiment compared the effect of duodenal infusion of either 100 g/l Intralipid (8·36 kJ/min) or isotonic saline (9 g NaCl/l) in paired studies carried out on two non-consecutive days on five male volunteers. Two consecutive 3 h infusions, one of lipid, the other saline, were given blind on each day using a crossover design. Analysis of variance indicated that lipid significantly reduced alertness (P < 0·05) and affected the speed and accuracy of performance in a sustained attention task (P < 0·05). A second experiment compared the effects on eight male volunteers of two isoenergetic lunches of similar appearance, taste and protein content but differing fat and carbohydrate (CHO) contents (fat energy:CHO, 64:18 v. 7:76). Alertness was lower (P < 0·05) and responses to stimuli in a sustained attention task were slower after the high-fat meal than after the low-fat meal (P < 0·05). In conclusion, infusion of lipid into the small intestine, and the substitution of fat for carbohydrate while keeping energy and protein constant in a lunch, both cause an enhanced postprandial decline in alertness and concentration. This may be related to the presence of lipid in the small intestine.

Keywords

LipidPostprandial alertness
Type
Lipid intake and alertness
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 74 , Issue 1 , July 1995 , pp. 115 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1995

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