Gut Hormones in Addiction (GHADD) v1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do appetitive gut hormones reduce addictive and eating behaviours in obesity, and nicotine and alcohol dependence?
IRAS ID
173709
Contact name
Tony Goldstone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Obesity, smoking and alcohol dependence are major health burdens to society. Relapse after alcohol and smoking abstinence is common despite the use of combined behavioural support and current limited available medications. In obesity, non-surgical interventions have also been disappointing in achieving long-term weight loss. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop novel drug treatments for addiction derived from knowledge of brain mechanisms related to relapse and reward responses to food and drugs.
There is evidence in animals that some gut hormones, produced in the stomach and intestine, influence the consumption of food and desire for food, but also alcohol, nicotine and other drugs of abuse. Examples of such gut hormones are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and ghrelin.
The influence of these hormones is exerted through brain systems involved in the core behavioural components of addiction: reward sensitivity, stress, impulsivity and compulsivity. These components are often also seen in obesity and food-related disorders such as binge eating disorder. It is unknown whether these gut hormones directly influence the core behavioural components of addiction in humans, particularly during abstinence.
Our study, funded by the UK Medical Research Council, is entitled, “Do gut hormones reduce addictive and eating behaviours in obesity, and nicotine and alcohol dependence?”, the Gut Hormones in ADDiction (GHADD) study. We will investigate the effects of Exenatide (mimics GLP-1) and desacyl ghrelin (counteracts active acyl ghrelin), which are infused through a vein, on brain reward systems, craving for food, cigarettes and alcohol, and addictive and eating behaviours.
We will recruit adults with nicotine or alcohol dependence who have recently stopped smoking or drinking, and overweight/obese adults. We will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans and computer-based test over 3 separate study days to study different aspects of eating and addictive behaviours.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1041
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion