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

June 12, 2012 updated by: Leonard Epstein, State University of New York at Buffalo

Food Reinforcement Genotype Interactions and Eating

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

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.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

310

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

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.

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Obese/Non-obese

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

State University of New York at Buffalo

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Leonard H Epstein, Ph.D., SUNY Buffalo

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 17, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 18, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

August 19, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 13, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 12, 2012

Last Verified

June 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1066937
  • 1066937-1-44786

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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