The effect of dairy products and non-dairy snacks on food intake, subjective appetite and cortisol levels in children: A randomized control study.

Abstract

Dairy snacks are available in various physical forms and their consumption is linked to improved metabolic health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dairy snacks of different physical forms on short-term food intake (FI), subjective appetite, and the stress hormone, cortisol, in children. Following a repeated-measures crossover design, 40 children aged 9-14 y randomly consumed one of five isoenergetic (180 kcal) snacks per study session. These snacks included solid: potato chips, cookies, and cheese, semi-solid: Greek yogurt, and fluid: 2% fat milk snacks. FI was measured 120 min after snack consumption. Subjective appetite was measured at 0 (immediately before the snack), 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. Salivary cortisol (n=18) was measured after the Greek yogurt and cookie snacks at 0 , 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. FI did not differ between snacks (P=0.15). The Greek yogurt (P<0.0001) and cheese (P=0.0009) snacks reduced average appetite compared to the 2% fat milk snack. Salivary cortisol levels were not affected by snack (P=0.84). This study demonstrates that dairy snacks are as effective as other popular snacks at influencing subsequent FI however, solid and semi-solid dairy snacks are more effective at repressing subjective appetite than a fluid dairy snack. Registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02484625). Novelty bullets: • Milk, Greek yogurt and cheese has a similar effect on short-term food intake in children as popular potato chips and cookies. • Solid, semi-solid and liquid snacks have a similar effect on short-term food intake in children.