The appetite-suppressant effect of nicotine is enhanced by caffeine.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether the anorectic effect of nicotine may be amplified by caffeine.


METHODS
Chewing gums with nicotine and caffeine were administered to 12 healthy young men of normal weight. Different combinations of 0, 1 or 2 mg of nicotine and 0, 50 or 100 mg of caffeine were applied during a 2-h period in a randomized, double blind, cross over design. Appetite sensations were measured using visual analogue scales.


RESULTS
Hunger and prospective food consumption were negatively associated with the increasing doses of nicotine, whereas satiety and fullness were positively associated with the increasing doses of nicotine (p < 0.05). Caffeine appeared to amplify the effects of nicotine on hunger and fullness as a caffeine x nicotine x time interaction was observed in these scores (p < 0.05). The 2-mg dose of nicotine in combination with the 100-mg dose of caffeine caused nausea in four of the non-smokers. However, the effects of nicotine and the caffeine x nicotine x time interaction persisted after the exclusion of these subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Caffeine added to nicotine chewing gum appears to amplify its attenuating effects on appetite and the combinations of 1-mg of nicotine with caffeine seem to be well tolerated.
Jessen
A
A
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark.
Buemann
B
B
Toubro
S
S
Skovgaard
I M
IM
Astrup
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002638:Chewing Gum; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000378:metabolism; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000187:drug effects; D012907:Smoking
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002110:Caffeine; D009538:Nicotine