During days 4–87, subjects consumed a LED in order to lose weight. The diet was a meal-replacement diet plan (Slim·Fast; Unilever Bestfoods Nederland BV), which is in accordance with 60% of the predicted EE (average percentage energy: protein 25, fat 15, carbohydrate 60). The subjects consumed a Slim·Fast meal replacement (ready-to-drink shake, soup, bar, pasta) at breakfast and lunch, and received instructions about the type and amount of food that they could ingest at dinner and as snacks. In addition, the subjects ingested three capsules (hard gelatine, size no. 1) of PLAC (Maltodextrin) or GT three times daily, at breakfast (09.00 h), lunch (13.00 h) and dinner (18.00 h). The composition and dose of the treatments is presented in Table 2.
Measurements took place in the fasted state on days 4, 32 and 87. In addition, on the morning of days 4 and 32, an indirect calorimetry test was performed. Because a variation in EE may occur in premenopausal women across the menstrual cycle, both tests were performed with subjects in the same phase of their cycle.