Short-term exercise combined with Acipimox administration induces an increase in plasma ACTH and its subsequent fall in the recovery phase in bulimic women
Abstract
Objective: Free fatty acids (FFA)-adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) feedback loop between adipose tissue and the hypothalamic-pituitary centers in the brain has been suggested to be affected by the exercise and by administration of anti-lipolytic drugs. Also leptin may be affected by exercise.
Dysfunction of FFA-leptin-ACTH secretion might be involved in binge eating and subsequent purging as is the case in bulimia nervosa (BN). Methods: In the present single-blind, randomized study, we explored responses of plasma ACTH, leptin and FFA concentrations to exercise (45 min, 2 W/kg of lean body mass [LBM]) with Acipimox (Aci), an anti-lipolytic nicotinic acid analog, or placebo randomly received in nine women with EN and nine healthy women.
In conclusion, Aci can be considered acceptable in the treatment of eating disorders, and it may also serve as an alternative low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) in these patients. Trial registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12612000309886.