Nicotine administration in healthy non-smokers reduces appetite but does not alter plasma ghrelin.
OBJECTIVE
We studied whether suppressed secretion of the orexigenic peptide ghrelin might be involved in the anorexigenic effects of nicotine.


METHODS
Fifty healthy non-smokers chewed gums containing 2 mg nicotine, or no nicotine in a double-blind randomised crossover design in two independent studies.


RESULTS
Plasma nonacylated ghrelin was not significantly affected by nicotine after 30 and 60 min. Increased blood pressure and decreased appetite ratings confirmed a biological nicotine effect.


CONCLUSIONS
These results do not support a key role of peripheral ghrelin secretion in weight changes related to smoking or smoking cessation, but do not rule out that central nervous system ghrelin is involved.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Maximilian
M
Pilhatsch
Hannah
H
Scheuing
Nils
N
Kroemer
Andrea
A
Kobiella
Martin
M
Bidlingmaier
Gisbert
G
Farger
Michael N
MN
Smolka
Ulrich S
US
Zimmermann
D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002638:Chewing Gum; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D002638:Chewing Gum; D054439:Ghrelin; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
appetite; blood pressure; ghrelin; nicotine