Active, as opposed to inactive, individuals are able to adjust their energy intake after preloads of different energy contents. The mechanisms responsible for this remain unknown. This study examined differences in plasma concentration of appetite-related hormones in response to breakfasts of different energy contents, between active and inactive men. Sixteen healthy nonobese (body mass index = 18.5-27 kg/m2) adult males (nine active and seven inactive) participated in this study. Participants were given a high-energy (570 kcal) or a low-energy (205 kcal) breakfast in a random order. Subjective feelings of appetite and plasma concentrations of active ghrelin, active glucagon-like peptide-1, total peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin, and insulin were measured in fasting and every 30 min up to 2.5 hr, in response to both breakfasts. Mixed analysis of variance (fat mass [in percentage] as a covariate) revealed a higher concentration of active ghrelin and lower concentration of glucagon-like peptide-1, and cholecystokinin after the low-energy breakfast (p < .001 for all). Postprandial concentration of PYY was greater after the high energy compared with the low energy, but for inactive participants only (p = .014). Active participants had lower postprandial concentrations of insulin than inactive participants (p < .001). Differences in postprandial insulin between breakfasts were significantly lower in active compared with inactive participants (p < .001). Physical activity seems to modulate the postprandial plasma concentration of insulin and PYY after the intake of breakfasts of different energy contents, and that may contribute, at least partially, to the differences in short-term appetite control between active and inactive individuals.
Keywords: ghrelin; glucagon-like peptide-1; hunger; peptide YY; physical activity.