Relationship Between Dopamine Genetics, Food Reinforcement, Energy Intake and Obesity

This study has been completed.

Sponsor:

Information provided by (Responsible Party):

Leonard Epstein, State University of New York at Buffalo

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00962117

First received: August 17, 2009

Last updated: June 12, 2012

Last verified: June 2012

History of Changes

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to determine whether the presentation of various foods produces an increase or decrease in responses on a motivational computer task. In addition, the study determines if energy intake or motivation to obtain food is related to the dopamine receptor genotype.

Condition
Obesity

Study Type:	Observational
Study Design:	Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional
Official Title:	Food Reinforcement Genotype Interactions and Eating

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Obesity

Drug Information available for: Dopamine

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by State University of New York at Buffalo:

Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

Saliva DNA samples will be collected from all participants

Enrollment:	310
Study Start Date:	February 2008
Study Completion Date:	June 2011
Primary Completion Date:	June 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Groups/Cohorts
Obese/Non-obese

Detailed Description:

One of the most important research areas in obesity is developing a better understanding of individual differences in factors that influence excess energy intake and positive energy balance. One key to understanding these individual differences is determining what factors underlie the motivation to eat. We have demonstrated in a series of studies that obese adults and children are more motivated to work for palatable, favorite foods than leaner peers and that those high in food reinforcement consume more food in an ad libitum eating task than those who do not find food as reinforcing. Dopamine (DA) is one of the major neurotransmitters involved in establishing the reinforcing value of food, and low levels of dopamine activity and a reduction in the number of DA receptors is associated with obesity. The general aim of the proposed research is to build upon this research to examine relationships between food reinforcement, obesity, and polymorphisms of genes within the dopaminergic system.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 50 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	Yes
Sampling Method:	Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects will be recruited from newspaper ads, posters on campus and in community settings, web based recruitment (ads on Craig's list and on the department's website) and direct mail targeted to community residents between 18-50 years of age.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Non-smokers
18-50 years of age
No known eating disorder
Moderate liking for study foods
No current diagnosis of psychiatric disorder (e.g., anxiety or depression)
Not on medications that would interfere with appetite (e.g., methylphenidate) or dopaminergic activity
Non-diabetics

Exclusion Criteria:

Smoker
Pregnant women
Current diagnosis of a psychiatric or eating disorder
Dietary restrictions that would interfere with participation
On medications that could interfere with appetite or olfactory responsiveness or use of antidepressants or any medication or dietary supplement that could affect appetite or dopaminergic activity
Excessive use of alcohol (>21 drinks/week), alcoholism,current addiction to opiates, cocaine or stimulants

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00962117

Sponsors and Collaborators

State University of New York at Buffalo

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Leonard H Epstein, Ph.D.

SUNY Buffalo

More Information

No publications provided by State University of New York at Buffalo

Additional publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Epstein LH, Carr KA, Lin H, Fletcher KD, Roemmich JN. Usual energy intake mediates the relationship between food reinforcement and BMI. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012 Sep;20(9):1815-9. doi: 10.1038/oby.2012.2. Epub 2012 Jan 13.

Epstein LH, Lin H, Carr KA, Fletcher KD. Food reinforcement and obesity. Psychological moderators. Appetite. 2012 Feb;58(1):157-62. Epub 2011 Oct 8.

Epstein LH, Carr KA, Lin H, Fletcher KD. Food reinforcement, energy intake, and macronutrient choice. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul;94(1):12-8. Epub 2011 May 4.

Responsible Party:	Leonard Epstein, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Social and Preventive Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00962117 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	1066937, 1066937-1-44786
Study First Received:	August 17, 2009
Last Updated:	June 12, 2012
Health Authority:	United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by State University of New York at Buffalo:

Food Reinforcement
Energy Intake
Obesity
Dopamine

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Obesity
Overnutrition
Nutrition Disorders

Overweight
Body Weight
Signs and Symptoms

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 18, 2013

To Top