Injection of Gut Hormones Could Stop Craving for Junk Food, Cigarettes and Alcohol

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A new scientific discovery could help curb cravings for junk food, smoke and alcohol. A simple injection of gut hormones could control parts of the brain linked to addiction.

Daily Mail UK reports that Academics at Imperial College London are initiating a study to prove whether a hormone found in the gut could effectively fight off the addiction to food, nicotine, alcohol and even drugs. The hormones are said to be naturally produced in the stomach and intestines.

The researchers found similarity between pang of hunger experienced by overweight and the cravings for nicotine, alcohol and drugs. This prompted the researchers to study the link.

In an interview with Daily Mail UK, Dr. Tony Goldstone, one of the leaders of the research, said: "Studies suggest that people who are overweight may also respond to stress by overeating, or be more impulsive"

"They may also find it difficult to stop eating when they are trying to lose weight, in much the same way that people find it hard to give up cigarettes when they are quitting smoking, or giving up alcohol when they have a drinking problem," Dr. Goldstone added in the interview with Daily Mail.

Researchers reasoned that parts of the brain that controls cravings get overactive when triggered either by the thought of eating, smoking or drinking. Using the hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 and ghrelin, the researchers believe they can effectively control parts of the brain linked to addiction, reward and stress reports NZ Herald.

More so, the researchers are trying to look for 90 volunteers who would like to undergo a six-hour infusion which is similar to a drip. To prove that the hormones could effectively stop the cravings, the researchers need 30 volunteers who are overweight, 30 volunteers who used to smoke and 30 volunteers who used to drink.

The participants will be shown different pictures of junk food, cigarettes and alcohol while scanning their brains. They will also be exposed with pictures that show stressful situations so they can observe how the hormone can reduce the stress levels as reported in NZ Herald.

If the study proves successful, the researchers predict that an injection could be made in the next five years. It would be used just like an insulin shot in the longer term said, Dr. Goldstone.

More so, Dr. Goldstone believes that it would also prevent other forms of addictions as well. The main goal of the study is to stop the participants from going back to their old habit once they decide to quit. Dr. Goldstone noted that the relapse stage is very large, with only six to eight percent managing to quit smoking from the initial of 40 percent reports Daily Mail.

Once detoxified from alcohol or nicotine, the medicine has the potential to stop people from relapsing.