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The Role of High-Protein Instant Ramen Noodles in Inducing and Maintaining Satiety: Acute, Randomized, Crossover Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study tested if a breakfast meal of high-protein instant ramen noodles would increase satiety, reduce hunger, improve glycemic response, and reduce lunch-time energy intake compared to an isocaloric breakfast of standard protein instant ramen noodles. METHODS: ) in a random sequence completed 2 testing days that included a 71 g breakfast of high-protein (HP) ramen noodles (320 kcal; protein 20 g [25% kcal]; carbohydrates 29 g [36% kcal]; fat 14 g [39% kcal]) and 71 g breakfast of standard protein (SP) ramen noodles (311 kcal; protein 6 g [8% kcal]; carbohydrates 41 g [53% kcal]; fat 13 g [38% kcal]). Appetite and hormonal responses were collected over 5 h followed by an ad libitum buffet lunch. Mixed effect model was used to examine the parameters. A paired t-test was used to examine differences in lunch intake between the two conditions. RESULTS: HP vs SP breakfast conditions showed that appetite score, the primary outcome, was similar. HP led to greater reduction of the desire for prospective food consumption and reduced lunch-time energy intake compared to SP (-94kcal; 95% CI: 8.63, 179.75 kcal; p < 0.04). Glucose, insulin, ghrelin, GLP-1 and PYY3-36 were not different between the treatments. Greater desire to eat something savory or something sweet was observed following HP breakfast compared to SP breakfast (p < 0.05). Perceived feeling of hunger, satiety, and the desire to eat something fatty or something salty was not different between the conditions. CONCLUSIONS: A breakfast of high-protein instant ramen noodles acutely decreased the desire for prospective food consumption and subsequently reduced lunch-time energy intake compared to an isocaloric standard protein instant ramen noodles breakfast. Among individuals who consume noodles, the incorporation of a high-protein version might be an effective strategy for reducing short-term subsequent food intake. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT05725681.

Source: Nutrition and Diabetes

DOI: 10.1038/s41387-026-00421-1