Konjac Glucomannan Slows Gastric Emptying and Increases Satiety Hormones GLP-1 and PYY
Higher-viscosity konjac glucomannan slowed gastric emptying, increased satiety hormones (GLP-1, PYY), and reduced appetite in a randomized controlled trial.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Higher viscosity konjac glucomannan delayed gastric emptying, increased GLP-1 and PYY secretion, and enhanced subjective satiety compared to lower viscosity or control conditions.
Key Numbers
n=22; hunger p=0.006; fullness p<0.001; desire-to-eat p=0.002; prospective consumption p=0.001; 5 hormones measured (insulin, GLP-1, PYY3-36, CCK-8, ghrelin)
How They Did This
Combined in vitro gastric emptying simulation with a randomized controlled trial in humans. Measured rheological properties, gastric emptying, subjective appetite, glycemia, insulin, GLP-1, PYY, CCK, and ghrelin responses to different KGM viscosities.
Why This Research Matters
Konjac glucomannan is widely used as a dietary supplement for weight management. This study provides mechanistic evidence connecting its viscosity to specific appetite hormone responses and gastric motility effects.
The Bigger Picture
This study connects the physical properties of a dietary fiber (viscosity) to specific gut hormone responses, bridging food science with the GLP-1 pathway that underpins modern weight loss drugs.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size. Short-term acute testing — chronic effects unknown. In vitro gastric simulator may not fully replicate in vivo digestion. KGM palatability at high viscosity may limit practical intake.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would sustained konjac glucomannan intake produce clinically meaningful weight loss?
- ?How does KGM-induced GLP-1 release compare quantitatively to GLP-1 drug therapy?
- ?Could konjac be formulated to maximize viscosity in the stomach while being palatable?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Higher viscosity = more GLP-1 Konjac glucomannan viscosity directly correlates with satiety hormone release and appetite suppression
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate — randomized controlled trial with mechanistic hormone data, but small sample and acute (single-meal) design.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2020; fiber-based appetite regulation continues to be studied alongside pharmaceutical GLP-1 approaches.
- Original Title:
- In vitro gastric emptying characteristics of konjac glucomannan with different viscosity and its effects on appetite regulation.
- Published In:
- Food & function, 11(9), 7596-7610 (2020)
- Authors:
- Shang, Longchen, Wang, Yi(7), Ren, Yanyan, Ai, Tingyang, Zhou, Peiyuan, Hu, Ling, Wang, Ling, Li, Jing, Li, Bin
- Database ID:
- RPEP-05123
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is konjac glucomannan?
A highly viscous dietary fiber from the konjac plant root, commonly used in Asian cuisine and available as a weight loss supplement. It absorbs water and forms a gel in the stomach, which this study shows triggers satiety hormone release.
How does konjac fiber relate to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic?
Both stimulate GLP-1 release, but through different mechanisms. Konjac triggers GLP-1 naturally by slowing digestion and stimulating gut cells, while drugs like semaglutide directly activate GLP-1 receptors. The fiber effect is much milder than pharmaceutical GLP-1.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-05123APA
Shang, Longchen; Wang, Yi; Ren, Yanyan; Ai, Tingyang; Zhou, Peiyuan; Hu, Ling; Wang, Ling; Li, Jing; Li, Bin. (2020). In vitro gastric emptying characteristics of konjac glucomannan with different viscosity and its effects on appetite regulation.. Food & function, 11(9), 7596-7610. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0fo01104e
MLA
Shang, Longchen, et al. "In vitro gastric emptying characteristics of konjac glucomannan with different viscosity and its effects on appetite regulation.." Food & function, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0fo01104e
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "In vitro gastric emptying characteristics of konjac glucoman..." RPEP-05123. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/shang-2020-in-vitro-gastric-emptying
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.