Insulin and Estrogen Independently and Differentially Reduce Macronutrient Intake in Healthy Men
Open accessAbstract
Context: Insulin administration to the central nervous system inhibits food intake, but this effect has been found to be less pronounced in female compared with male organisms. This sex-specific pattern has been suggested to arise from a modulating influence of estrogen signaling on the insulin effect. Objective: We assessed in healthy young men whether pretreatment with transdermal estradiol interacts with the hypophagic effect of central nervous insulin administration via the intranasal pathway. Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention: According to a 2×2 design, two groups of men (n = 16 in each group) received a 3-day transdermal estradiol (100 µg/24 h) or placebo pretreatment and on two separate mornings were intranasally administered 160 IU regular human insulin or placebo. Main Outcome Measures: We assessed free-choice ad libitum calorie intake from a rich breakfast buffet and relevant blood parameters in samples collected before and after breakfast. Results: Estrogen treatment induced a 3.5-fold increase in serum estradiol concentrations and suppressed serum testosterone concentrations by 70%. Independent of estradiol administration, intranasal insulin reduced the intake of carbohydrates during breakfast, attenuating in particular the consumption of sweet, palatable foods. Estradiol treatment per se decreased protein consumption. We did not find indicators of eating-related interactions between both hormones. Conclusions: Results indicate that, in an acute setting, estrogen does not interact with central nervous insulin signaling in the control of eating behavior in healthy men. Insulin and estradiol rather exert independent inhibiting effects on macronutrient intake.
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In healthy men, estrogen administration did not alter the response in eating behaviour after administration of nasal insulin.
“This is contrary to findings in healthy men, where estrogen administration did not alter the response in eating behaviour after administration of nasal insulin36.”
From Brain insulin action on peripheral insulin sensitivity in women depends on menstrual cycle phase (2023) · cites this paper as [36]
Pretreating healthy young men with transdermal oestrogen for three consecutive days, leading to a 3.5-fold increase in serum oestradiol, did not attenuate the suppression in calorie consumption triggered by IN insulin.
“pretreating healthy young men with transdermal oestrogen for three consecutive days, which led to a 3.5-fold increase in their serum oestradiol concentrations, did not attenuate the suppression in calorie consumption triggered by IN insulin.”
From Intranasal insulin (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
Delivery schedules synced to food intake might be necessary for the catabolic impact of IN insulin to emerge.
“suggesting that delivery schedules synced to food intake 39,42,44,47 might be necessary for the catabolic impact of IN insulin to emerge.”
From Intranasal insulin (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Krug, R., Mohwinkel, L., Drotleff, B., Born, J., & Hallschmid, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- University of Lübeck (DE)
- Department of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Helmholtz Munich (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Hallschmid, Manfred
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2018-01-12
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1393-1401
- ISSN
- 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7197
- OpenAlex
- W2783864434
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Site cant be reached (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- PuSH - Publication Server of Helmholtz Zentrum München (submittedVersion)
- 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
- insulin, estradiol, macronutrient intake, food intake regulation, intranasal insulin, transdermal estradiol, sex differences, testosterone, carbohydrate intake, protein intake, dietary habits, healthy men
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adolescent, Adult, Blood Glucose, Energy Intake, Dietary Carbohydrates, Drug Interactions, Eating, Estradiol, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Insulin, Male, Psychometrics, Random Allocation, Testosterone, Young Adult, Transdermal Patch
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