Περίληψη:
Objective: Neurotransmitter systems participate in the regulation of
food intake, and their activities are expected to influence eating
behavior.
Design and Methods: We investigated possible associations between body
mass index (BMI) and central noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine
activities, as reflected by the cerebrospinal fluid levels of their main
metabolites methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic
acid (5-HIAA), and homovanillic acid (HVA), respectively. We studied 192
subjects (111 males, 81 females) admitted to neurologic clinic for
diagnostic investigations that included CSF analysis, and were found not
to suffer from any major neurological disease. Subjects were categorized
in three groups, namely in lower, in the two middle, and in upper BMI
quartiles, the limits calculated separately for males and females.
Results: No differences were found in MHPG levels between groups, while
subjects in the upper BMI quartile showed significantly elevated levels
of 5-HIAA and HVA compared to the levels of subjects in lower and middle
quartiles.
Conclusions: The results provide evidence that in overweight subjects
there are enhanced demands in serotoninergic and dopaminergic signaling
for their reward system that may lead to increased motivation for food
consumption. The implication of reward centers in eating behavior
supports the hypothesis of common mechanisms in obesity and drug
addiction.
Συγγραφείς:
Markianos, M.
Evangelopoulos, M. -E.
Koutsis, G.
Sfagos, C.
