Citicoline affects appetite and cortico-limbic responses to images of high-calorie foods.
OBJECTIVE
Cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (citicoline) has a variety of cognitive enhancing, neuroprotective, and neuroregenerative properties. In cocaine-addicted individuals, citicoline has been shown to increase brain dopamine levels and reduce cravings. The effects of this compound on appetite, food cravings, and brain responses to food are unknown.


METHODS
We compared the effects of treatment with Cognizin citicoline (500 mg/day versus 2,000 mg/day) for 6 weeks on changes in appetite ratings, weight, and cortico-limbic responses to images of high-calorie foods using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).


RESULTS
After 6 weeks, there was no significant change in weight status, although significant declines in appetite ratings were observed for the 2,000 mg/day group. The higher dose group also showed significant increases in functional brain responses to food stimuli within the amygdala, insula, and lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Increased activation in these regions correlated with declines in appetite ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary findings suggest a potential usefulness of citicoline in modulating appetite, but further research is warranted.
Killgore
William D S
WD
Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA. killgore@mclean.harvard.edu
Ross
Amy J
AJ
Kamiya
Toshikazu
T
Kawada
Yoko
Y
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
Yurgelun-Todd
Deborah A
DA
D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline