R.D. Mattes and S.K. Voisard Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Epidemiologic studies indicate regular consumption of peanuts does not promote weight gain and is inversely related to coronary heart disease risk. This intervention study determined the effects of a 500 kilocalorie peanut preload on hunger and food intake in 12 male and 12 female, normal weight adults. To identify the factor(s) associated with outcome measures, responses were also monitored to randomly presented isoenergetic loads of peanut butter (rheology control), almonds (tree nut), chestnuts (macronutrient control), chocolate (sensory control) as well as pickles (matched on weight), rice cakes (matched on volume) or no load (time control) at one week intervals. A statistically significant and comparable reduction in hunger was observed for all isoenergetic loads while the weight, volume, and time controls lead to no immediate decline and a significant elevation at 3 hours relative to baseline. total energy intake was comparable across treatments and relative to baseline. Mean total daily fat intake was significantly higher following the peanut, peanut butter, almond, and chocolate loads with the fatty acid composition reflecting the content of the loads. In summary, peanuts have a strong satiety value due to their high energy content, elicit dietary energy but not macronutrient compensation and promote ingestion of a diet with higher proportions of mono- and polyunsaturated fat.

Supported by U.S. AID grant #LAG-4048-G-00-6013-00; Subgrant #RD309-022/4092094 (Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program).

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