Xenical and Alii (orlistat) may increase appetite and food consumption

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Wednesday, October 08, 2008 11:34 am Email this article
Orlistat, which includes both the prescription drug Xenical and over-the--counter drug Alii, reduce secretion of appetite-reducing hormones in the gut, which could increase appetite according to a new study from researchers at St. Josef-Hospital at Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany. Subjects

Subjects: 25 healthy people

The study involved 25 healthy people who given orlistat or a placebo followed by a solid-liquid test meal.

 

Findings

Findings: CCK 53% lower, PYY 40% lower, GLP-1 20% lower

After giving orlistat, blood levels of satiety hormones were as follows:

• CCK (cholecystokinin) 53% lower
• PYY (peptide YY) 40% lower
• GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) 40% lower

 

Appetite and Food Consumption

Increased Appetite and Food Consumption

“Satiety and fullness were lowered by Orlistat, whereas appetite and prospective food consumption increased,” the researchers noted.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion: Orlistat might increase appetite

“Orlistat alters gastric and gallbladder emptying and reduces the postprandial secretion of GLP-1, PYY and CCK. These changes in gastrointestinal hormone concentrations may raise appetite sensations and increase food consumption and should therefore be considered as potential side effects when applying lipase inhibitors for the treatment of morbid obesity,” the researcher conclude.

REFERENCE

Ellrichmann M, Kapelle M, Ritter PR, Holst JJ, Herzig K-H, Schmidt WE, Schmitz F, Meier JJ. Orlistat inhibition of intestinal lipase acutely increases appetite and attenuates postprandial glucagon-like peptide-1-(7–36)-amide-1, cholecystokinin, and peptide yy concentrations. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008 Sep-Oct, 93(10):3995-98.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Mark Ellrichmann
Department of Medicine I
St. Josef-Hospital
Ruhr-University Bochum
Gudrunstrasse 56
44791 Bochum, Germany
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Alii (orlistat) - (also see Xenical)

• Xenical (orlistat)