Polaprezinc (Zinc-L-Carnosine Complex) as an Add-on Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa, and the Possible Involvement of Zinc Deficiency in These Conditions: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Zinc plays an important role in appetite regulation. L-Carnosine, an endogenous dipeptide, may also regulate eating behavior via its histaminergic and antiglutamatergic properties. Polaprezinc (zinc-L-carnosine complex) is a medication for gastric ulcers. A small case series reported successful treatment of binge eating with add-on polaprezinc.

METHODS:

This was an open trial of add-on polaprezinc in patients with binge eating disorder (BED; n = 22) or bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 7) receiving antidepressants. A 4-week baseline period was followed by a 16-week polaprezinc treatment at 150 mg/d (containing 34 mg zinc and 116 mg L-carnosine) in addition to ongoing psychotropic medications. We also assessed their zinc status via a laboratory index and zinc deficiency-related symptoms.

RESULTS:

At the study end, both conditions showed a significant reduction in the 4-week frequency of combined objective and subjective binge eating episodes, the 4-week frequency of days when at least 1 such episode occurred (only in BED), several aspects of eating disorder psychopathology (rated by the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire), and comorbid depressive symptoms (rated by the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology [Self-Report]). Serum copper/zinc ratio decreased from 1.4 to 1.1 on average in both conditions. All patients had multiple zinc deficiency-related symptoms at baseline that substantially improved after polaprezinc treatment. Overall, the effectiveness of polaprezinc was greater in BED patients than in BN patients, with minor adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings offer preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of polaprezinc in treating BED and BN and suggest the involvement of zinc deficiency in these conditions.

• Authors: Kensaku Sakae, Machi Suka, Hiroyuki Yanagisawa
• Journal: Journal of clinical psychopharmacology (J Clin Psychopharmacol) 2020 Nov/Dec Vol. 40 Issue 6 Pg. 599-606 ISSN: 1533-712X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33044355 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents
• Biomarkers
• Organometallic Compounds
• Zinc Compounds
• polaprezinc
• Carnosine
• Zinc

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Binge-Eating Disorder (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Bulimia Nervosa (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, psychology)
• Carnosine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Dietary Supplements (adverse effects)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Feeding Behavior (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Organometallic Compounds (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Pilot Projects
• Prospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Tokyo
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult
• Zinc (blood, deficiency)
• Zinc Compounds (adverse effects, therapeutic use)