Brain Dopamine Function in Human Obesity

Sponsor
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (NIH)
Overall Status
Active, not recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT03648892
Collaborator
(none)
86
1
1
55.2
1.6

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Background:

Dopamine is a natural chemical in the brain that may influence eating behavior and physical activity. Researchers want to measure the brain s dopamine activity and understand how it differs in people with obesity.

Objective:

To better understand how brain function, particularly dopamine activity, relates to body weight and eating behavior.

Individuals may be able to participate if they:

Have a BMI of at least 18.5 kg/m2

Are weight-stable and generally healthy

Are between ages 18-45 years

Have normal blood pressure

Are not using illegal drugs (based on urine drug screen)

Are not following a special diet

Do not have metal implants

Design:
Participants will be screened with:
  • Medical history

  • Physical exam

  • Questionnaires and an interview to see if it is safe to have a PET/MRI scan

  • Fasting blood and urine tests

  • Participants will eat a special diet given to them for the 5 days before their inpatient visit.

Participants will have a 5-day inpatient visit. Some days include blood and urine tests. Each day includes surveys and tests to measure habits and likes/dis-likes. A sample schedule may be:

Day 1: Participants will wear a monitor that uses a needle below the skin to measure glucose. Their body fat will be measured with low-dose x-rays

Day 2: Participants will have a PET scan. They will lie on a table that slides in and out of a donut-shaped scanner. They will be injected with a small amount of a radioactive substance and wear a cap on their head.

Day 3: Participants will have an MRI. They will lie on a table that slides in and out of a scanner.

Day 4: Participants will have another PET scan. This time, they will drink a milk shake during a break from the scanner. Then, they will go back inside the scanner for the end of their scan.

Day 5: Participants will wear a hood for up to 40 minutes to measure their breathing. They will also drink special water and collect samples of their urine to measure the rate they burn energy.

For 12 months after the visit, participants will track their weight and physical activity daily using a special scale and activity monitor. A few times over the year, the study team will send participants special activity monitors to use for 7 days at a time.

Participants will have an in-person 1-day follow-up visit. This includes most tests except for PET scanning....

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
Early Phase 1

Detailed Description

Evidence from neuroimaging studies indicates that aberrant functionality in brain regions that support reward processing and habit formation may be related to an individual's eating behavior and obesity propensity. In particular, our previous research found that increased dopamine D2 receptor binding potential (D2BP) in the dorsal and lateral striatum was positively related to opportunistic eating behaviors, body fat, and body mass index (BMI). However, our findings were contrary to highly-cited previous reports of D2BP correlating with BMI in the opposite direction. The primary aim of this study is to elucidate the reasons for the conflicting results that used somewhat different methodologies. Specifically, our previous study used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure D2BP using the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist radioligand [18F]fallypride following a period of dietary stabilization and 3 hours after a standardized breakfast. Reports finding correlations between D2BP and BMI in the opposite direction have typically investigated subjects with higher BMI using the D2 receptor antagonist radioligand [11C]raclopride. Furthermore, previous studies were typically conducted in the fasted state, but the subjects' prior food intake was not well-controlled. The present study will attempt to resolve the controversy by measuring D2BP using both [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride in 39 adults, 13 within each of three BMI strata to represent a large BMI range, under controlled overnight fasting conditions following a period of dietary stabilization. The primary aims are to estimate the mathematical relationship between striatal D2BP and BMI and determine the within-subject correlations of D2BP derived from [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
86 participants
Allocation:
N/A
Intervention Model:
Single Group Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Basic Science
Official Title:
Brain Dopamine Function in Human Obesity
Actual Study Start Date :
Sep 21, 2018
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Mar 31, 2022
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Apr 28, 2023

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Other: Main

Healthy volunteers, within three BMI strata, under controlled overnight fasting conditions following a period of dietary stabilization

Drug: [c11] raclopride
The present study will attempt to resolve the controversy by measuring D2BP using both [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride in 39 adults, 13 within each of three BMI strata to represent a large BMI range, under controlled overnight fasting conditions following a period of dietary stabilization. The primary aims are to estimate the mathematical relationship between striatal D2BP and BMI and determine the within-subject correlations of D2BP derived from [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride.

Drug: [18F]fallypride
The present study will attempt to resolve the controversy by measuring D2BP using both [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride in 39 adults, 13 within each of three BMI strata to represent a large BMI range, under controlled overnight fasting conditions following a period of dietary stabilization. The primary aims are to estimate the mathematical relationship between striatal D2BP and BMI and determine the within-subject correlations of D2BP derived from [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Correlation between striatal D2BP as measured by [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride time-activity curves [Days 1-5]

    To determine correlations between striatal D2BP, as measured by [18F]fallypride and [11C]raclopride time-activity curves.

  2. Relationship between striatal D2BP and BMI [Days 1-5]

    To determine if striatal D2BP is related to BMI and whether there is a linear or quadratic relationship as previously hypothesized.

  3. Change in striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding potential (D2BP) D2BP after a palatable meal and its association with BMI [Days 1-5]

    To determine the effect of palatable meal consumption on striatal D2BP and determine its association with BMI. Binding potential estimates will be estimated within subjects using [11C]raclopride.

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Associations between behavioral performance on Food Go/NoGo computer task and striatal D2BP [Days 1-5]

    Exploratory analyses of correlations between behavior measured by performance on Food Go/NoGo computer task and striatal D2BP.

  2. Associations between ad libitum meal consumption and striatal D2BP. [Days 1-5]

    Exploratory analyses of correlations between eating behavior measured by ad libitum food intake at a single meal and striatal D2R.

  3. Associations between brain metabolite GABA via MRS and striatal D2BP via [18F]fallypride [Days 1-5]

    Exploratory analyses of correlations between striatal GABA and D2BP and their relationship with BMI.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Age 18-45 years, male and female

  • Consent to undergoing PET scanning

  • Body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 18.5 kg/m^2

  • Weight stable (less than plus or minus 5% change in the past month)

  • Written informed consent

  • Estimated IQ greater than or equal to 70, as determined by the NART (Scores below 70 are indicative of mental retardation; IQ has been related to alterations in brain structure and function that may confound neuroimaging measures. Failure to meet this eligibility criteria will be documented in the record and communicated to the potential participant as ineligibility based on reading test results )

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Age 46 or greater (Age is a significant confound in the relationship between BMI and dopamine. Dopamine binding has been shown to drastically decrease in the fifth decade of life.

  • Body weight > 400 lbs. (weight limit of PET scanner)

  • Weigh less than 80% of maximum lifetime weight

  • BMI < 18.5 kg/m2

  • Past or present history of neurological or psychiatric disease (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use disorder or psychosis), or eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder) as determined by research team upon review of

history/physica l, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionna ire and Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure.

  • Blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg

  • Evidence/history of cancer, metabolic disease (e.g. thyroid disease, diabetes) or cardiovascular disease (e.g. coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, atherosclerosis), or disease that may influence metabolism

  • Current use of prescription medication or other drug that may influence metabolism (diet/weight-loss medication, asthma medication, psychiatric medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and stimulants for ADHD, corticosteroids or other medications at the discretion of the PI and/or study team)

  • Pregnancy, lactation at any time during study/follow-up period (women only)

  • Evidence of vigorous exercising in order to lose weight, change body shape, or to counteract the effects of eating

  • Previous bariatric surgery

  • Evidence of nicotine dependence as determined by Fagerstrom scoregreater than or equal to 3 (including chewing or smoking tobacco), any drug use (amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana), or problematic alcohol use (i.e. diagnosis of alcohol use disorder: meeting greater than or equal to 2 of 11 criteria in past 12 months, ranging from drinking more/longer than intended to experiencing

withdrawal symptoms); report of binge drinking: greater than or equal to 5 drinks in 2 hours or greater than or equal 4 drinks in

2 hours for men and women, respectively) over the previous 6 months.

  • Volunteers with strict dietary concerns (e.g. kosher diet, milk allergy or lactose intolerance, or food allergies)

  • Caffeine consumption > 300 mg/day (roughly greater than or equal to 3 cups coffee or 2-3 energy drinks)

  • Having metal implants incompatible with MRI (for example, pacemakers, metallic prostheses such as cochlear implants or heart valves, shrapnel fragments, etc.).

  • Having had previous radiation exposure within the last year for either medical or research purposes (e.g. X-rays, PET scans, etc.) that would exceed research limits. Excessive radiation exposure will be determined at the discretion of the PI and/or study team

  • Are claustrophobic to a degree that they would feel uncomfortable in the MRI machine.

  • Non-English speakers.

  • Cannot commit to the schedule of visits to the Clinical Research Center as required by the study timeline

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Bethesda Maryland United States 20892

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kevin Hall, Ph.D., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Additional Information:

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT03648892
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 180132
  • 18-DK-0132
First Posted:
Aug 28, 2018
Last Update Posted:
Jul 1, 2022
Last Verified:
May 19, 2022
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
Undecided
Plan to Share IPD:
Undecided
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jul 1, 2022