title: Dieting decreases plasma tryptophan and increases the prolactin response to d-fenfluramine in women but not men.
abstract: We studied the effect of 3 weeks of moderate calorie restriction on 5-HT-mediated prolactin (PRL) release in healthy volunteers using the 5-HT-releasing agent d-fenfluramine. In women, dieting significantly lowered plasma total and free tryptophan (TRP) and increased the PRL response to d-fenfluramine. None of these measures were altered in men who dieted. These findings add to the data indicating that dieting alters brain 5-HT function in women, perhaps as a consequence of reducing the availability of plasma TRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Littlemore Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Oldman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fairburn
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D011388:Prolactin