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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Published in:

01-07-2018 | Original Article

Noradrenaline transporter availability on [¹¹C]MRB PET predicts weight loss success in highly obese adults

Authors: Franziska J. Vettermann, Michael Rullmann, Georg A. Becker, Julia Luthardt, Franziska Zientek, Marianne Patt, Philipp M. Meyer, Anke McLeod, Matthias Brendel, Matthias Blüher, Michael Stumvoll, Anja Hilbert, Yu-Shin Ding, Osama Sabri, Swen Hesse

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 9/2018

Abstract

Purpose

Although the mechanisms by which the central noradrenaline (NA) system influences appetite and controls energy balance are quite well understood, its relationship to changes in body weight remains largely unknown. The main goal of this study was to further clarify whether the brain NA system is a stable trait or whether it can be altered by dietary intervention.

Methods

We aimed to compare central NA transporter (NAT) availability in ten obese, otherwise healthy individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 42.4 ± 3.7 kg/m² (age 34 ± 9 years, four women) and ten matched non-obese, healthy controls (BMI 23.9 ± 2.5 kg/m², age 33 ± 10 years, four women) who underwent PET with the NAT-selective radiotracer (S,S)-[¹¹C]O-methylreboxetine (MRB) before and 6 months after dietary intervention.

Results

MRI-based individual volume-of-interest analyses revealed an increase in binding potential (BP_ND) in the insula and the hippocampus of obese individuals, which correlated well with changes in BMI (−3.3 ± 5.3%; p = 0.03) following completion of the dietary intervention. Furthermore, voxel-wise regression analyses showed that lower BP_ND in these regions, but also in the midbrain and the prefrontal cortex, at baseline was associated with higher achieved weight loss (e.g., hippocampal area R² = 0.80; p < 0.0001). No changes were observed in non-obese controls.

Conclusion

These first longitudinal interventional data on NAT availability in highly obese individuals indicate that the central NA system is modifiable. Our findings suggest that NAT availability before intervention could help predict the amount and success of weight loss in obese individuals and help adjust treatment options individually by allowing prediction of the benefit of a dietary intervention.

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Title: Noradrenaline transporter availability on [11C]MRB PET predicts weight loss success in highly obese adults
Authors: Franziska J. Vettermann
Michael Rullmann
Georg A. Becker
Julia Luthardt
Franziska Zientek
Marianne Patt
Philipp M. Meyer
Anke McLeod
Matthias Brendel
Matthias Blüher
Michael Stumvoll
Anja Hilbert
Yu-Shin Ding
Osama Sabri
Swen Hesse
Publication date: 01-07-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 9/2018
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-018-4002-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Noradrenaline transporter availability on [¹¹C]MRB PET predicts weight loss success in highly obese adults

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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