The current project applies an integrative three-prong approach to investigate the potential of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) agonist bromocriptine to: 1) increase homeostatic satiation signaling, 2) alter neural circuitry to reduce hedonically motivated food intake, and 3) examines a genetic predisposition that may markedly impact the effectiveness of this medication in those at high risk for T2DM.
Twenty-nine million Americans have diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM), with fewer than half able to meet treatment goals and considerably more are at risk for development of T2DM. Implementation of healthy eating behavior has been identified as a barrier to T2DM treatment and efficacy. The determinants of eating behavior and weight regulation involve a complex interaction among individual-level homeostatic, hedonic, and genetic systems, and the external food environment. The high prevalence of obesity and T2DM suggests hedonic motivation to consume food overrides homeostatic satiation signaling, resulting in excess food intake. Elevated intake increases body mass and promotes T2DM incidence via dysregulation of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), amylin, and adiponectin, which in turn can negatively impact T2DM treatment options. Use of a pharmaceutical, such as bromocriptine, to aid in behavioral change is a novel method for treating and ameliorating T2DM and warrants investigation given that previous work has shown reward response to food images mediates T2DM control. Use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques to predict and evaluate hedonically-motivated eating behavior can be used to measure sensitivity to reward, and the role it plays in developing obesity, and is therefore an excellent tool to examine the associations among bromocriptine, satiety hormones, reward sensitivity and eating behavior. Moreover, since 20-35% of the population carries the DRD2 TaqIA A1 allele, and 65% of the population is overweight or obese and at high risk for T2DM development or currently diagnosed, as much as 23% of the population may greatly benefit from dopamine agonist treatment. Despite the possibility that bromocriptine may have robust impact on T2DM treatment or as prevention therapy in those that are genetically predisposed, few data are available that directly examine the three systems (homeostatic, hedonic, genetic) available to assess whether a genetically-informed, personalized T2DM treatment is viable.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
2 capsules, orally administered once
1.6mg (2 0.8mg capsules), orally administered once
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Ad Libitum Food and Beverage Intake (g)
Ad libitum food intake of highly-palatable snacks is assessed during each intervention arm. Participants are left alone for 25 minutes to eat as much as they want from a selection of snacks (M\&Ms, Skittles, Doritos, cheddar popcorn) and a chocolate milkshake. Both snacks and milkshake are pre- and post-weighed to determine ad libitum food intake.
Time frame: Within 15 minutes of completion of the ad libitum period
Hedonic Ratings of Food as Measured by a Visual Analog Scale
Testing the effects of the drug on hedonic ratings (pleasantness, desire to consume) of milkshake and snacks on a scale from -100 to 100. Pleasantness was assessed by asking 'How pleasant is this taste?', with responses ranging from -100 (most unpleasant imaginable) to 100 (most pleasant imaginable). Desire to consume was assessed by asking 'How much would you want to eat/drink this?', with responses ranging from -100 (least desirable imaginable) to 100 (most desirable imaginable).
Time frame: Up to 5 minutes prior to ad libitum period start
Change in Voxel-wise Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) Brain Activation in Response to Milkshake Anticipation and Receipt vs. Water
The fMRI paradigm assesses evoked BOLD response to cue-elicited anticipation and receipt of a milkshake and water. A region-of-interest (ROI) approach is used to assess changes in BOLD signal in the striatum. The striatal response is assessed for the two contrasts of interest: milkshake\>h2o anticipation and milkshake\>h2o receipt. Positive values reflect a higher striatal BOLD activation for the milkshake; negative reflects a higher striatal BOLD activation for the water. Parameter estimates of the relative BOLD response to each of these contrasts are extracted and compared between the two arms. The paradigm has 64 trials and each trial starts with the presentation of a cue for 1s signaling the impending delivery of either 3 mL of highly palatable milkshake or a control water solution over a period of 6s. Taste delivery is followed by a wait period and rinse (tasteless solution). The next trial begins after a 1-9s jitter. Order of milkshake and water trials is pseudo-randomized.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 Weeks
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Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
55
Ad Libitum Food and Milkshake Intake (g) by TaqIA Allele Status (A1 vs. A2/A2)
Testing the drug by gene (TaqIA) interaction on ad libitum food intake (g).The presence of the high-risk A1 allele of the TaqIA polymorphism (rs1800497) in the DRD2 gene was determined from saliva samples and is compared to the A2/A2 variant.
Time frame: Within 15 minutes of completion of the ad libitum period
Hedonic Ratings of Milkshake Pleasantness and Desire as Measured by a Visual Analog Scale by TaqIA Allele Status (A1 vs. A2/A2)
Testing the drug by gene (TaqIA) interaction on hedonic ratings (pleasantness, desire to consume) of milkshake on a scale from -100 to 100. Testing the drug by gene (TaqIA) interaction on ad libitum milkshake (g). The presence of the high-risk A1 allele of the TaqIA polymorphism (rs1800497) in the DRD2 gene was determined from saliva samples and is compared to the A2/A2 variant. Pleasantness was assessed by asking 'How pleasant is this taste?', with responses ranging from -100 (most unpleasant imaginable) to 100 (most pleasant imaginable). Desire to consume was assessed by asking 'How much would you want to eat/drink this?', with responses ranging from -100 (least desirable imaginable) to 100 (most desirable imaginable).
Time frame: Up to 5 minutes prior to ad libitum period start
Change in Voxel-wise Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) Brain Activation in Response to Milkshake Anticipation and Receipt vs. Water by TaqIA Allele Status (A1 vs. A2/A2)
The fMRI paradigm assesses evoked BOLD response to cue-elicited anticipation and receipt of a milkshake and water. A region-of-interest (ROI) approach is used to assess changes in BOLD signal in the striatum. The striatal response is assessed for the two contrasts of interest: milkshake\>h2o anticipation and milkshake\>h2o receipt. Positive values reflect a higher striatal BOLD activation for the milkshake; negative reflects a higher striatal BOLD activation for the water. Parameter estimates of the relative BOLD response to these contrasts are extracted and used to test the drug by gene (TaqIA) interaction. The paradigm has 64 trials and each trial starts with the presentation of a cue signaling the impending delivery of either 3 mL of highly palatable milkshake or a control water solution over a 6s period. Taste delivery is followed by a wait period and rinse (tasteless solution). The next trial begins after a 1-9s jitter. Order of milkshake and water trials is pseudo-randomized.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 Weeks