Intravenous ghrelin administration increases alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent heavy drinkers: a preliminary investigation
L Leggio, WH Zywiak, SR Fricchione, SM Edwards… - Biological …, 2014 - Elsevier
Background There is a need to identify novel pharmacologic targets to treat alcoholism.
Animal and human studies suggest a role for ghrelin in the neurobiology of alcohol
dependence and craving. Here, we were the first to test the hypothesis that intravenous
administration of exogenous ghrelin acutely increases alcohol craving. Methods This was a
double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory proof-of-concept study. Nontreatment-
seeking, alcohol-dependent, heavy-drinking individuals were randomized to receive …
Animal and human studies suggest a role for ghrelin in the neurobiology of alcohol
dependence and craving. Here, we were the first to test the hypothesis that intravenous
administration of exogenous ghrelin acutely increases alcohol craving. Methods This was a
double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory proof-of-concept study. Nontreatment-
seeking, alcohol-dependent, heavy-drinking individuals were randomized to receive …