Acute effects of nicotine on hunger and caloric intake in smokers and nonsmokers

Abstract

The inverse relationship between smoking and body weight may be due in part to nicotine's effects on reducing hunger and eating. Male smokers and nonsmokers (n = 10 each), abstinent overnight from smoking and food, participated in four sessions, involving consumption of a liquid caloric load or water followed by nicotine (15 micrograms/kg) or placebo via nasal spray every 20 min for 2 h. Hunger and satiety ("fullness") ratings were obtained prior to each dose presentation. At the end of the two sessions involving the caloric load (simulating breakfast), subjects were also presented with typical lunch/snack food items varying in sweet taste and fat content for ad lib consumption. Results indicated that, for both smokers and nonsmokers, the hunger-reducing effects of nicotine occurred only following caloric load consumption, and there was no effect of nicotine on hunger afer water consumption. Smokers unexpectedly reported greater satiation than nonsmokers following the caloric load regardless of nicotine or placebo condition. Nicotine also resulted in less caloric intake during the meal, and the decrease was not specific to consumption of sweet, high-fat foods. These results indicate that nicotine reduces appetite, possibly helping to explain the influence of smoking on body weight.

Altered reward value of carbohydrate snacks for female smokers withdrawn from nicotine

“…The first is that smokcrs undergoing nicotine deprivation eat more because they arc hungrier. Increased hunger due to loss of nicotine's phannacological suppressant effect on appetite could stitn~~latc initiation of meals or could heighten between-meal snacking by rcducing the satiating power of meals Perkins et al, 1991Perkins et al, , 1995. A second class of explanation is that nicotine deprivation produccs a rcward deficiency state that heightens thc incentive appeal o f accessible rewards, increasing their motivational salience.…”

The Effects of Smoking on the Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Arterial Stiffness

“…The pathophysiology of the effect of cigarette smoking on body weight is not completely understood, although it is known that the main effects of smoking on body weight are mediated by nicotine. Nicotine is a sympathomimetic agent that increases energy expenditure by approximately 10% and promotes the release of several hormones which suppress appetite and increase satiety [27,30,31].…”

Passive smoking, active smoking, and education: their relationship to weight history in women in Geneva.

“…Smoking may have a short-term effect on weight that disappears within 2 years following smoking cessation whereas education may have a long-term effect on weight. Smoking may affect hunger,n 23 …”