1. Introduction
hunger sensations, human primary gastric crypt, gastrointestinal tract
The direct infusion of bitter solutions in the gastrointestinal tract can reduce the secretion of orexigenic hormones and influence appetite and food intake. We aimed to explore whether oral ingestion of the bitter tastant hydroxychloroquine sulfate can exert similar effects. Ten lean adult women were included in this double-blind, randomized, two-visit, crossover study. After an overnight fast, each volunteer received film-coated tablets containing 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine sulfate (PlaquenilBitter flavors are frequently associated with spoiled or toxic substances [The reaction caused by bitter tastants in the GI tract is, at least in part, linked to the altered secretion of appetite-regulating hormones. Both in vivo studies on animals and humans and in vitro studies on cell lines and human primary gastric crypt preparations have shown that bitter agonists can affect the secretion of appetite-regulating hormones [Although the direct infusion of bitter solutions in the GI tract shows promising effects, the expansion of its use is hampered by the need for nasogastric intubation. Replacement with a so-called “bitter pill” that releases its content in the stomach could offer a solution to overcome this barrier. Such a pill is already commercially available under the name PlaquenilThis study aims to investigate whether the intake of a pill comprising HCQS can have similar effects on hunger sensations, hedonic food intake and orexigenic gut hormone release compared with previously reported [