Skip to main content
Log in

The effects of oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding behavior in obese adult female subjects

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Nineteen obese female subjects with body mass index ranging between 30 and 40 were included in a double-blind crossover study aimed at evaluating the effects of oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding behavior, mood state and weight loss. Either 5-hydroxytryptophan (8 mg/kg/day) or placebo was administered for five weeks during which patients were not prescribed any dietary restrictions. Feeding behavior was investigated by means of a questionnaire designed to establish the onset of anorexia and related symptoms. Food intake was evaluated using a three-day diet diary. BDI, SI, STAI-T, and STAI-S were used to assess mood state. The administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan resulted in no changes in mood state but promoted typical anorexiarelated symptoms, decreased food intake and weight loss during the period of observation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beck AT (1976) Depression: clinical, experimental and theoretical aspects. Harper and Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Blundel JE, Leshem MB (1975) The effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan on food intake and on the anorexic action of amphetamine and fenfluramine. J Pharm Pharmacol 27: 31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Cangiano C, Cascino A, Ceci F, Menichetti ET, Mulieri M, Muscaritoli M, Rossi Fanelli F (1987) Plasma and CSF tryptophan in patients with cancer anorexia. In: Bender DA, Joseph MH, Kochen W, Steinhart H (eds) Progress in tryptophan and serotonin research. W de Gruyter, Berlin New York, pp 269–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Chooinard C, Young SN, Annable L, Sourkes TI (1979) Tryptophan, nicotinamide, imipramine and their combination in depression: a controlled study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 59: 395–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernstrom JD (1983) Role of precursor availability in control of monoamine biosynthesis in brain. Physiol Rev 63: 484–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernstrom JD, Wurtman RJ (1971) Brain serotonin content: increase following ingestion of carbohydrate diet. Science 174: 1023–1025

    Google Scholar 

  • Heraief E, Burchardt P, Wurtman JJ, Wurtman RJ (1983) Tryptophan can enhance weight loss by some moderately-obese patients on PSMF diet. In: Sullivan AC, Garattini S (eds) International symposium on novel approaches and drugs for obesity. New York, October 3–5 1983. New York, Abstract book: p 27 a

  • Hollon SD, Kendall PC (1980) Cognitive self-statements in depression development of an automatic thought questionnaire. Cogn Ther Res 4: 383–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause R, James MJ, Ziparo V, Fischer JE (1979) Brain tryptophan and the neoplastic anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Cancer 44: 1003–1008

    Google Scholar 

  • Leibowitz SF (1978) Paraventricular nucleus: a primary sites mediating adrenergic stimulation of feeding and drinking. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 8: 163–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Li ETS, Anderson GH (1983) Amino acids in the regulation on food intake. Nutr Abs Rev Clin Nutr 53: 169–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman HR, Wurtman JJ, Chew B (1986) Changes in mood after carbohydrate consumption among obese individuals. Am J Clin Nutr 44: 772–778

    Google Scholar 

  • Lytle LD (1977) Control of eating behavior. In: Wurtman RJ, Wurtman JJ (eds) Nutrition and brain. Raven Press, New York, pp 2–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellinkoff SM (1957) Digestive system. Ann Rev Physiol 19: 175–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi Fanelli F, Cangiano C, Ceci F, Cellerino R, Franchi F, Menichetti ET, Muscaritoli M, Cascino A (1986) Plasma tryptophan and anorexia in human cancer. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 22: 89–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstone T, Fincham E (1978) Experimental techniques for the measurement of hunger and food intake in man for use in the evaluation of anorectic drugs. In: Garattini S, Samanin R (eds) Central mechanisms of anorectic drugs. Raven Press, New York, pp 81–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder SH (1972) Catecholamines and serotonin. In: Sigel GJ, Albers RW (eds) Basic neurochemistry. Little, Brown and Co, Boston, pp 89–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Udenfriend S, Titus E, Weissabach M (1955) The identification of 5-hydroxy-3-indolaceticacid in normal urine and a method for its assay. J Biol Chem 216: 449–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Weekley LB, Maher RW, Kimbrough TK (1982) Alterations of tryptophan metabolism in a rat strain (Osborne-Mendel) predisposed to obesity. Comp Biochem Physiol [A] 72: 747–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman JJ, Wurtman RJ, Growdon JH, Henry P, Lipscomb MA, Zeisel SH (1981) Carbohydrate craving in obese people: suppression by treatments affecting serotoninergic neutrotransmission. Int J Eating Dis 1: 2–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman RJ, Hefti F, Melamed E (1981) Precursor control of neurotransmitter synthesis. Pharmacol Rev 32: 315–331

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ceci, F., Cangiano, C., Cairella, M. et al. The effects of oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding behavior in obese adult female subjects. J. Neural Transmission 76, 109–117 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01578751

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01578751

Keywords

Navigation