Vagus nerve stimulation increases energy expenditure: relation to brown adipose tissue activity

G.H. Vijgen*, N.D. Bouvy, L. Leenen, K. Rijkers, E. Cornips, M. Majoie, B. Brans, W.D. van Marken Lichtenbelt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity is inversely related to obesity and positively related to energy expenditure. BAT is highly innervated and it is suggested the vagus nerve mediates peripheral signals to the central nervous system, there connecting to sympathetic nerves that innervate BAT. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used for refractory epilepsy, but is also reported to generate weight loss. We hypothesize VNS increases energy expenditure by activating BAT. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Fifteen patients with stable vns therapy (age: 45 +/- 10 yrs; body mass index; 25.2 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2)) were included between January 2011 and June 2012. Ten subjects were measured twice, once with active and once with inactivated VNS. Five other subjects were measured twice, once with active VNS at room temperature and once with active VNS under cold exposure in order to determine maximal cold-induced BAT activity. BAT activity was assessed by 18-Fluoro-Deoxy-Glucose-Positron-Emission-Tomography-and-Computed-Tomography. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was significantly higher when VNS was turned on (mean change; +2.2%). Mean BAT activity was not significantly different between active VNS and inactive VNS (BAT SUV(Mean); 0.55 +/- 0.25 versus 0.67 +/- 0.46, P = 0.619). However, the change in energy expenditure upon VNS intervention (On-Off) was significantly correlated to the change in BAT activity (r = 0.935, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: VNS significantly increases energy expenditure. The observed change in energy expenditure was significantly related to the change in BAT activity. This suggests a role for BAT in the VNS increase in energy expenditure. Chronic VNS may have a beneficial effect on the human energy balance that has potential application for weight management therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered in the Clinical Trial Register under the ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01491282.
Original languageEnglish
Article number77221
Number of pages8
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume8
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Oct 2013

Keywords

  • WEIGHT-LOSS
  • VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMUS
  • FEEDING-BEHAVIOR
  • RATS
  • OBESITY
  • ADULTS
  • THERMOGENESIS
  • ENTEROSTATIN
  • VAGOTOMY
  • GALANIN

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