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Disturbed eating at high altitude: influence of food preferences, acute mountain sickness and satiation hormones

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Abstract

Purpose

Hypoxia has been shown to reduce energy intake and lead to weight loss, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim was therefore to assess changes in eating after rapid ascent to 4,559 m and to investigate to what extent hypoxia, acute mountain sickness (AMS), food preferences and satiation hormones influence eating behavior.

Methods

Participants (n = 23) were studied at near sea level (Zurich (ZH), 446 m) and on two days after rapid ascent to Capanna Margherita (MG) at 4,559 m (MG2 and MG4). Changes in appetite, food preferences and energy intake in an ad libitum meal were assessed. Plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin, peptide tyrosine–tyrosine, gastrin, glucagon and amylin were measured. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) was monitored, and AMS assessed using the Lake Louis score.

Results

Energy intake from the ad libitum meal was reduced on MG2 compared to ZH (643 ± 308 vs. 952 ± 458 kcal, p = 0.001), but was similar to ZH on MG4 (890 ± 298 kcal). Energy intake on all test days was correlated with hunger/satiety scores prior to the meal and AMS scores on MG2 but not with SpO2 on any of the 3 days. Liking for high-fat foods before a meal predicted subsequent energy intake on all days. None of the satiation hormones showed significant differences between the 3 days.

Conclusion

Reduced energy intake after rapid ascent to high altitude is associated with AMS severity. This effect was not directly associated with hypoxia or changes in gastrointestinal hormones. Other peripheral and central factors appear to reduce food intake at high altitude.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the volunteers for their cooperation in this ambitious study. Further thanks go to Prof. Christoph Beglinger, University Hospital Basel and to Barbara Schneider, University Hospital Zurich for their support with sample analysis. This study was supported by two Cooperative Project Grants (coordinated by MM and TAL) by the Zurich Centre for Integrative Human Physiology, Zurich, Switzerland.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, RAE B07, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Isabelle Aeberli & Kaspar Berneis

  2. Human Nutrition Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Isabelle Aeberli & Annina Erb

  3. Physiology and Behavior Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Wolfgang Langhans

  4. Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Kerstin Spliethoff, Daniela Meier, Max Gassmann & Thomas A. Lutz

  5. Centre for Integrative Human Physiology, Zurich, Switzerland

    Kerstin Spliethoff, Oliver Götze, Mark Fox, Max Gassmann, Kaspar Berneis, Marco Maggiorini, Wolfgang Langhans & Thomas A. Lutz

  6. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Oliver Götze, Heiko Frühauf & Mark Fox

  7. NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    Mark Fox

  8. Biopsychology Group, Institute of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Graham S. Finlayson

  9. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima, Peru

    Max Gassmann

  10. Pulmonary Division, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Marco Maggiorini

Authors
  1. Isabelle Aeberli
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  2. Annina Erb
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  3. Kerstin Spliethoff
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  8. Graham S. Finlayson
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  12. Wolfgang Langhans
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  13. Thomas A. Lutz
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Correspondence to Isabelle Aeberli.

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Aeberli, I., Erb, A., Spliethoff, K. et al. Disturbed eating at high altitude: influence of food preferences, acute mountain sickness and satiation hormones. Eur J Nutr 52, 625–635 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0366-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0366-9

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