Document Detail


The involvement of brain serotonin in excessive carbohydrate snacking by obese carbohydrate cravers.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  6381575     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A specific hunger for carbohydrate-rich foods has been observed in animals and human beings and appears to be regulated by the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Consumption of a carbohydrate-rich meal increases the synthesis and release of brain serotonin (by enhancing the brain uptake of its precursor, tryptophan). As a consequence of this increased release of serotonin, carbohydrate intake is decreased at the next meal. Consumption of protein does not increase brain serotonin levels or decrease carbohydrate intake. A subgroup of obese individuals who consume carbohydrate-rich snack foods at specific times of day or evening has been identified. Such individuals do not routinely snack on protein-rich foods, and their consumption of calories and nutrients at meals is not excessive. Evidence is presented that carbohydrate snacking seems to be related to a "need" to increase the level of brain serotonin; treatment with a drug, d-1 fenfluramine, that increases serotoninergic neurotransmission significantly decreases carbohydrate snack consumption. Weight loss among the population of carbohydrate cravers might be most successful if treatment includes either a diet or drugs that increase brain serotonin activity when the need to snack on carbohydrate is most likely to occur.
Authors:
J J Wurtman
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American Dietetic Association     Volume:  84     ISSN:  0002-8223     ISO Abbreviation:  J Am Diet Assoc     Publication Date:  1984 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1984-10-18     Completed Date:  1984-10-18     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7503061     Medline TA:  J Am Diet Assoc     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1004-7     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Animals
Brain / drug effects*,  metabolism
Dietary Carbohydrates / pharmacology*
Dietary Proteins
Fenfluramine / pharmacology*,  therapeutic use
Food Preferences / drug effects
Humans
Obesity / diet therapy,  drug therapy
Serotonin / physiology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Dietary Carbohydrates; 0/Dietary Proteins; 458-24-2/Fenfluramine; 50-67-9/Serotonin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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