Chronic Treatment With Psilocybin Decreases Changes in Body Weight in a Rodent Model of Obesity
Joyce Huang, Michelle Pham, William J. Panenka, William G. Honer, Alasdair M. Barr
Frontiers in Psychiatry May 18, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.891512 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Adult male rats pre-conditioned to obesity with a cafeteria diet |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Metformin |
| Dose | 0.1, 1, or 5 mg/kg i.p.; 300 mg/kg p.o. |
| Duration | 27 consecutive weekdays |
| Topics | Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Endocrinology Metformin Weight loss Obesity Weight gain Agonist Pharmacology Body weight Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 19 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin at low and high doses significantly reduced weight gain in obese rats, with the high dose also decreasing calorie intake and central adiposity, though metformin produced a greater effect. |
Abstract
Background: There are currently relatively few effective pharmacological treatments for obesity, and existing ones may be associated with limiting side-effects. In the search for novel anti-obesity agents, drugs that modify central serotonergic systems have historically proven to be effective in promoting weight loss. Psilocin, which is rapidly metabolized from psilocybin, is an agonist at multiple serotonin receptors. In the present study we assessed the effects of psilocybin and a positive control (metformin) on changes in body weight in a rat model of obesity.
Methods: Five groups of adult male rats were pre-conditioned with a cafeteria diet until obese (>600 g) and then treated with either psilocybin (0.1, 1, or 5 mg/kg, i.p.), metformin (300 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle control. Treatments were for 27 consecutive weekdays, and body weights and high calorie food intake were recorded daily. Fasting glucose levels were recorded after 11 days of treatment. At the end of treatment rats completed a glucose tolerance test, and multiple fat pads were dissected out to assess adiposity.
Results: The medium dose psilocybin group had to be terminated from the study prematurely. Both the low and high dose psilocybin groups caused a significant decrease in changes in body weight compared to controls. The metformin group produced a greater decrease in change in body weight than either psilocybin groups or controls. Both high dose psilocybin and metformin decreased consumption of the high calorie diet, and exhibited decreased central adiposity.
Conclusion: Psilocybin demonstrated modest but significant effects on weight gain. Further study is recommended.