EFFECT OF REPEATED INGESTION OF WATER AND SOLID SUCROSE ON THE DIFFERENTIAL SENSITIVITY TO SUCROSE AND ASPARTAME

The differential sensitivity to sucrose or Aspartame in water was studied over the course of 90 min sessions, using a sequential method. The assessors had not eaten since 9 a.m. and the sessions began at 12 noon. Two factors were studied: water ingestion and solid sucrose ingestion every 5 min. The ingestion of water had no effect on discriminative sensitivity. However, the ingestion of solid sucrose had an effect; it maintained discriminant ability in contrast to the protocol without ingestion. The reason for this effect of sucrose is not known; it might be metabolic, hedonic or perhaps something else.