Secretin infusion decreases food intake in healthy men - a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study

Sebastian M.N. Heimbürger, Maria J. Bentzen, Hüsün S. Kizilkaya, Bolette Hartmann, Jens J. Holst, Mette M. Rosenkilde, Flemming Dela, Svend H. Hansen, Jens F. Rehfeld, Mikkel B. Christensen, Filip K. Knop*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Design: The hormone secretin, best known for regulating pH in the duodenum, has anorectic properties in mice proposedly mediated via secretin-induced brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation. We investigated the effects of exogenous secretin on ad libitum food intake, BAT activity, and postprandial physiology in healthy male volunteers. Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, 25 healthy men underwent two 5-h i.v. infusions of secretin (1 pmol/kg/min) and placebo (saline), respectively, with an interposed 2-month wash-out period. After 30 min of infusion, a standardized liquid-mixed meal was ingested, and after 5 h, food intake and meal duration were assessed during an ad libitum meal test. Brown adipose tissue activity was assessed regularly by thermal imaging-measured supraclavicular skin temperature. Results: Compared with placebo, secretin significantly decreased ad libitum food intake by 173 ± 88 kcal (95% CI, 0.76-0.99, P =. 039) but did not alter ad libitum meal duration. Secretin acutely decreased BAT activity but increased it postprandially compared with placebo. Acetaminophen-assessed gastric emptying was not affected by exogenous secretin, but secretin increased gallbladder volume, bile acid synthesis, and circulating levels of lipase, amylase, and triglycerides, while decreasing plasma Na+. Compared with placebo, secretin infusion was associated with 24.0 ± 10.8% (95% CI, 0.3-1, P =. 025) more adverse events (headache, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting). Conclusions: In healthy men, secretin infusion decreased ad libitum food intake concomitantly with a postprandial increase in BAT activity as assessed by thermal imaging-measured supraclavicular skin temperature.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Endocrinology
Volume191
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)545-557
Number of pages13
ISSN0804-4643
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Endocrinology. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • brown adipose tissue
  • gastrointestinal tract
  • lipid metabolism
  • mechanisms in endocrinology
  • obesity
  • secretin

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