Liraglutide: A Potential Breakthrough in Nicotine Addiction Treatment, According to University of Copenhagen Research

2023-06-15 16:59:16

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that liraglutide, a drug originally developed for diabetes and severe obesity, can reduce nicotine cravings, the university writes in a press release.

Diabetes drug appears to inhibit nicotine addiction;
The research provides opportunities for new treatment options.

Smoking is a major threat to public health in Denmark, causing nearly 16,000 deaths each year. 75 percent of smokers want to quit. The research shows that liraglutide inhibits the influence of nicotine on the brain’s reward system. This is due to an interaction with GLP-1, a hormone that plays a role in the brain’s response to nicotine. Clinical trials are already underway, but further research is needed to determine the effect of liraglutide on nicotine intake in mice. The findings offer hope for new treatment options that address both the physical and mental aspects of nicotine addiction.

The role of liraglutide in inhibiting the effects of nicotine

The groundbreaking research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that liraglutide, a drug originally developed for diabetes and severe obesity, could also help people struggling with nicotine addiction. Nicotine, a highly addictive substance in tobacco products, is the main reason why smokers find it difficult to quit. According to the Danish Health Authority, nearly a quarter of Danes are addicted to nicotine products, with snuff and e-cigarettes on the rise among young people.

Professor Christoffer Clemmensen explained that liraglutide inhibits the effect nicotine has on the reward system in the brain. When nicotine combines with GLP-1, a hormone that plays an important role in the brain’s response to nicotine, dopamine is released. This acts as a reward and therefore makes quitting smoking difficult. The research originally focused on the interaction between GLP-1 and nicotine to promote weight loss.

Appetite suppressing effects of GLP-1 and nicotine

The research, published in Cell Reports, revealed that GLP-1 and nicotine both act as appetite suppressants. Nicotine increases energy expenditure and smoking cessation often leads to weight gain. When GLP-1 and nicotine work together, they promote weight loss, while GLP-1 alone reduces nicotine cravings. Both GLP-1 and nicotine affect the same neurons in the brain, with GLP-1 affecting the body’s response to nicotine. The combination of these substances decreases both food intake and dopamine release, reducing nicotine cravings.

The research into the reward system in the brain was carried out in collaboration with the Gether Lab, which falls under the faculty of neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen. The researchers hope that pharmaceutical companies will further explore the potential of GLP-1-based drugs and their interaction with nicotine. The full study, dubbed ‘GLP-1 and nicotine combination therapy engages hypothalamic and mesolimbic pathways to reverse obesity’, also opens up new treatment options for nicotine addiction.

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