Cited by 296Regulation of Appetite and ObesityHypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesEating Disorders and Behaviors

Differential sensitivity of men and women to anorexigenic and memory-improving effects of intranasal insulin

Benedict, Christian, Kern, Werner, Schultes, Bernd, Born, Jan, Hallschmid, Manfred·2008·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Abstract

CONTEXT: Brain insulin is critically involved in the regulation of body weight and memory processing. Long-term administration of intranasal insulin reduces body weight in men, but not in women, while improving hippocampus-dependent memory processing in both genders. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to assess the effects of a single dose of intranasal insulin on food intake and memory function in men and women, and to determine any gender differences. METHODS: A total of 32 healthy, normal-weight subjects (14 men, 18 women) were intranasally administered 160 IU regular human insulin or vehicle before performing a hippocampus-dependent two-dimensional-object location task, a working memory task (digit span), and a hippocampus-independent mirror tracing task. Subsequently, food intake from an ad libitum breakfast buffet was measured. RESULTS: Insulin treatment decreased food intake in men but not in women (difference to placebo condition, men: -192.57 +/- 78.48 kcal, P < 0.03; women: 18.54 +/- 42.89 kcal, P > 0.67). In contrast, hippocampus-dependent memory and working memory were improved in women (P < 0.03, P < 0.05, respectively), whereas men did not benefit from acute insulin treatment (P > 0.17, P > 0.20). Performance on the hippocampus-independent mirror tracing task was not affected by insulin in women or men. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with animal data, results indicate that men are more sensitive than women to the acute anorexigenic effect of central nervous insulin signaling, whereas insulin's beneficial effect on hippocampus-dependent memory functions is more pronounced in women. Our findings provide support for the notion of a fundamental gender difference in central nervous insulin signaling that pertains to the regulation of energy homeostasis and memory functions.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1210/jc.2007-2606

Cites

33 of 33 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Intranasal insulin delivery to the human brain reduced food intake in lean men but not in women.

    “In line with these findings, intranasal insulin delivery to the human brain reduced food intake in lean men but not in women24.”
  • Experimental studies suggest considerable sex differences in brain insulin sensitivity.

    “Of note, experimental studies suggest considerable sex differences in brain insulin sensitivity.”
  • The free-choice ad libitum test buffet enables precise assessment of primarily hunger-driven food intake in the fasted state.

    “This procedure has been repeatedly shown to enable the precise assessment of primarily hunger-driven food intake in the fasted state (20–22).”

    From Oxytocin Reduces Reward-Driven Food Intake in Humans (2013) · cites this paper as [20]

  • Simple nasal atomisers have been proven to reliably trigger functional effects in healthy humans.

    “simple nasal atomisers, 37 which have been proven to reliably trigger functional effects in healthy humans”

    From Intranasal insulin (2021) · cites this paper as [39]

  • Fasted men ate less after IN insulin 160 IU compared to placebo, whereas women consumed similar amounts of food in both conditions.

    “fasted men ate less after IN insulin (160 IU) compared to placebo administration, whereas women consumed similar amounts of food from the breakfast buffet on offer in both conditions.”

    From Intranasal insulin (2021) · cites this paper as [39]

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Authors
Benedict, C., Kern, W., Schultes, B., Born, J., & Hallschmid, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Lübeck (DE)
  • Kantonsspital St. Gallen (CH)
Corresponding author
Benedict, Christian
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Published
2008-04
Volume
93
Issue
4
Pages
1339-1344
ISSN
  • 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7197
OpenAlex
W2046140771
Cited by
296
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 14
FWCI
5.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • 10th European Congress of Endocrinology
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords
intranasal insulin, sex differences, dietary intake, anorectic effect, hippocampal-dependent memory, working memory, mirror tracing, energy homeostasis, memory enhancement
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Blood Glucose, Eating, Female, Hippocampus, Humans, Insulin, Male, Memory, Sex Characteristics, Signal Transduction

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