The therapeutic potential of GLP-1 analogues for stress-related eating and role of GLP-1 in stress, emotion and mood: a review
File(s)
Author(s)
Guerrero-Hreins, Eva
Goldstone, Anthony P
Brown, Robyn M
Sumithran, Priya
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Stress and low mood are powerful triggers for compulsive overeating, a maladaptive form of eating leading to negative physical and mental health consequences. Stress-vulnerable individuals, such as people with obesity, are particularly prone to overconsumption of high energy foods and may use it as a coping mechanism for general life stressors. Recent advances in the treatment of obesity and related co-morbidities have focused on the therapeutic potential of anorexigenic gut hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which acts both peripherally and centrally to reduce energy intake. Besides its appetite suppressing effect, GLP-1 acts on areas of the brain involved in stress response and emotion regulation. However, the role of GLP-1 in emotion and stress regulation, and whether it is a viable treatment for stress-induced compulsive overeating, has yet to be established. A thorough review of the pre-clinical literature measuring markers of stress, anxiety and mood after GLP-1 exposure points to potential divergent effects based on temporality. Specifically, acute GLP-1 injection consistently stimulates the physiological stress response in rodents whereas long-term exposure indicates anxiolytic and anti-depressive benefits. However, the limited clinical evidence is not as clear cut. While prolonged GLP-1 analogue treatment in people with type 2 diabetes improved measures of mood and general psychological wellbeing, the mechanisms underlying this may be confounded by associated weight loss and improved blood glucose control. There is a paucity of longitudinal clinical literature on mechanistic pathways by which stress influences eating behavior and how centrally-acting gut hormones such as GLP-1, can modify these. (250).
Date Issued
2021-08-30
Date Acceptance
2021-03-09
Citation
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2021, 110
ISSN
0278-5846
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Volume
110
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33741445
PII: S0278-5846(21)00062-2
Grant Number
MR/M007022/1
Subjects
Addiction
Emotion
GLP-1
Mood
Obesity
Stress
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
ARTN 110303
Date Publish Online
2021-03-16