Influence of methylphenidate on eating in obese men.
OBJECTIVE
Rapid synaptic dopamine transport or reduced brain dopamine receptor signaling may influence energy intake. Methylphenidate, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, increases brain synaptic dopamine and produces anorexia, suggesting that it may reduce energy intake. We investigated the effects of two doses of short-acting methylphenidate on energy intake over one meal in obese adult males.


METHODS
Nine obese males (>85th BMI percentile) ingested a placebo or a moderate dose (0.5 mg/kg) or a high dose (1.0 mg/kg) of methylphenidate in a within-subject double-blind acute laboratory study. One hour after ingestion, pizza consumption was measured in a naturalistic laboratory setting.


RESULTS
Participants reduced energy intake by 23% for the moderate dose vs. the placebo (p < 0.02), but there was no significant difference for the high dose vs. the moderate dose (p > 0.05). Participants consumed 34% fewer kilocalories after ingesting the lowest effective dose of methylphenidate compared with placebo (725.7 +/- 404.5 vs.1095 +/- 271.1 kcal, p < 0.01). Seven of nine subjects responded to the moderate dose. The increase in perceived drug effect above placebo was correlated with the reduction in energy intake for both the moderate (r = -0.85, p = 0.004) and the high (r = -0.75 p = 0.021) doses. Hunger scores were not different across drug doses or placebo before drug administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Methylphenidate reduced energy intake of a highly palatable food over one meal by one-third in obese adult males. Dopamine transport inhibition may be an effective component of a comprehensive treatment for obesity.
Department of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine Institute, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA. leddy@buffalo.edu
John J
JJ
Leddy
Leonard H
LH
Epstein
Jodie L
JL
Jaroni
James N
JN
Roemmich
Rocco A
RA
Paluch
Gary S
GS
Goldfield
Caryn
C
Lerman
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012527:Satiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate