title: Methylphenidate decreases fat and carbohydrate intake in obese teenagers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that mediates the reward value of food. Methylphenidate (MPH) selectively binds and inhibits the dopamine transporter, thus increasing brain dopamine levels shortly after oral administration. This investigation studied whether a single dose of MPH decreases energy intake (EI) in obese teenagers compared to placebo (P).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a single-blind, placebo-controlled, within subject design. Teenagers with body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile underwent two identical meal tests (P or MPH) after a 10 h fast in random order. Food was weighed before and after the meals, and EI was calculated as energy content/gram of consumed foods. Total and macronutrient EI (mean ± SD) were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two subjects (15 females, 7 males) completed the study. Participants were 13.4 ± 2.2 years old and had BMI 34.9 ± 10.7 kg/m². EI from fat (167 vs. 203 kcal, P = 0.03) and carbohydrates (311 vs. 389 kcal, P = 0.04) was decreased for MPH compared to P meals, with a trend in decreased total EI (545 vs. 663 kcal, P = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single dose of MPH decreases EI from fat and carbohydrates in obese adolescents. This effect underscores the importance of central dopamine signaling on eating behavior.
authors.affiliation: Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danilovich
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Mastrandrea
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quattrin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007328:Insulin; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; D008774:Methylphenidate