Methylphenidate reduces energy intake and dietary fat intake in adults: a mechanism of reduced reinforcing value of food?
BACKGROUND
Dopamine mediates the reinforcing value of food, and low concentrations of dopamine are related to increased feeding. Thus, administering a drug that increases dopamine may reduce energy intake, possibly by reducing food reinforcement.


OBJECTIVE
We tested whether short-acting methylphenidate (MPH), a drug that increases the availability of dopamine by blocking its reuptake, reduces energy intake and alters macronutrient preference and whether these effects are due to a mechanism of reduced hunger or food reinforcement.


METHODS
Fourteen adults were given placebo or short-acting MPH (0.5 mg/kg) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover fashion. One hour after ingestion, hunger and the relative reinforcing value of snack food were measured, followed immediately by energy intake and macronutrient preference during a buffet-style lunch.


RESULTS
MPH reduced energy intake by 11% (P = 0.024) as well as intake of fat by 17% (P = 0.003) relative to placebo. Despite similar levels of prebuffet hunger, subjects taking MPH reduced their energy and fat intakes more than did those taking placebo, which suggests that hunger may not mediate the effects of MPH on energy intake. MPH showed a trend toward reducing the reinforcing value of high-fat food relative to placebo, but reduced food reinforcement was not significantly correlated with energy intake.


CONCLUSIONS
MPH reduced overall energy intake with a selective reduction in dietary fat. Findings are consistent with a reward deficiency model of obesity whereby low brain dopamine predicts overeating and obesity, and administering agents that increase dopamine results in reduced feeding behavior.
Goldfield
Gary S
GS
Mental Health Research, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. ggoldfield@cheo.on.ca
Lorello
Claudio
C
Doucet
Eric
E
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010919:Placebos
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D010919:Placebos; D008774:Methylphenidate