Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP) was reported to decrease the intake of liquid food in lean and in obese man. This study investigated the effect of CCK-OP on the consumption of real life food, i.e., of standardized sandwiches. Sixteen young non-obese females and males participated, after an overnight fast, each in two experiments. After a basal 30 min, saline or CCK-OP, 1.5 or 3.0 Ivy Dog Units/kg body weight/15 min, was infused in random double blind fashion, while sandwiches were placed in front of the subjects. For the next three 15-min periods, the subjects were instructed to eat as much as they liked. In the first 15 min after 3.0 as well as 1.5 U CCK-OP/kg/15 min significantly fewer sandwiches (50 and 17 percent) were eaten than after saline (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05) and less hunger was reported (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.05). Self-reported activation decreased only with 3.0 U CCK-OP (p less than 0.005). Reports of well-bring , electroencephalogram, heart rate, and respiration were not altered. The results support the notion that CCK is involved in the regulation of food intake.
