We previously demonstrated that reducing the caloric load of a model drink from 30 g (10 %) sucrose to 21 g (7 %), while maintaining sweetness level with the taste modifier hesperetin, lowered postprandial glucose fluctuations and energy intake at an ad libitum breakfast. However, the contribution of the reduction of the caloric load compared to the addition of hesperetin remained unclear. We hypothesized that independent of participants' sex, the reduction of carbohydrate content is decisive for the glycemic and appetite and sweet craving responses. In a single-blinded, randomized crossover study with 39 healthy adults (21 female), we compared a 10 % sucrose solution, an equi-sweet 7 % sucrose solution containing hesperetin, and a less sweet 7 % sucrose solution with respect to postprandial glucose and incretin responses, as well as energy intake, taking sex-specific differences into account. Females showed lower glucose peaks after both sucrose-reduced drinks (without hesperetin: Δ 59 ± 17 %, p < 0.01; with hesperetin: Δ 50 ± 17 %, p < 0.05), whereas male responses were similar independent of the carbohydrate content. The equi-sweet treatments similarly increased GLP-1 in females (Δ 100 ± 36 %, p < 0.05), but not in males. In contrast, GIP levels rose in men only (Δ 177 ± 65 %, p < 0.05) following the equi-sweet treatments. Despite lower appetite and sweet craving ratings after the sugar-reduced treatments across sexes, subsequent energy intake at an ad libitum breakfast was not significantly different between treatments. These results indicate sex-specific metabolic responses and suggest that lowering sucrose content while maintaining sweetness preserves satiety signaling, without affecting subsequent energy intake at an ad libitum breakfast in both male and female individuals.
