Converging evidence indicates that concern about weight gain after abstinence increases reluctance to attempt smoking cessation, and that post-cessation weight gain is associated with smoking relapse. Chronic smoking causes numerous neurobiological changes, and smoking abstinence is associated with changes in appetite. Elucidating biobehavioral mechanisms associated with these effects of abstinence is critical in identifying those at high risk for weight gain and for planning appropriate treatment contingencies. The long-term goal of our research is to delineate the interactions of neurobiological mechanisms responsible for appetite regulation and tobacco addiction. The specific goal of this project is to determine the extent to which levels of appetite-regulating peptides (i.e., leptin, ghrelin, GLP-1, neuropeptide Y, and orexin) measured during smoking and during the early phase of abstinence predict subsequent changes in appetite, dietary intake, weight, and relapse during smoking cessation. We will also examine the extent to which abstinence-induced blunted adrenocortical and cardiovascular responses to stress predict changes in appetite, dietary intake, weight, and relapse over the first three months of a cessation attempt. This application is a continuation of our focused program investigating the role of stress in smoking relapse while taking into account that the effects of stress do not operate in vacuum, and that there is a need to clearly identify interactions of stress effects with other motivational and mood states. We have completed studies identifying specific psychobiological patterns of the stress response sensitive to individual and situational factors in smokers and non-smokers. We recently completed a series of studies that examined changes in hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenocortical responses to stress following short-term smoking abstinence and evaluated the extent to which these changes predict early relapse. The composite work and literature have provided relevant directions to guide the development of the proposed program.

Public Health Relevance

Tobacco addiction/dependence is the leading preventable cause of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Evidence indicates that weight gain occurring after smoking abstinence increases reluctance to attempt smoking cessation, especially among women. There is also evidence that post-cessation weight gain is associated with smoking relapse. We plan to determine the extent to which changes in appetite-related peptides and stress response during early abstinence predict subsequent weight gain and smoking relapse. Gaining a better understanding of these factors will be essential in designing interventions to address weight gain and stress effects during cessation, and to subsequently reduce smoking relapse rates. Reducing smoking relapse will have a direct public health impact in reducing the burden of smoking-related diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA027232-02
Application #
8146194
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-L (05))
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2010-09-30
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$456,959
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
al'Absi, Mustafa (2018) Stress response pathways, appetite regulation, and drug addiction. Biol Psychol 131:1-4
al?Absi, Mustafa (2018) Stress and Addiction: When a Robust Stress Response Indicates Resiliency. Psychosom Med 80:2-16
Lemieux, Andrine M; al'Absi, Mustafa (2018) Changes in circulating peptide YY and ghrelin are associated with early smoking relapse. Biol Psychol 131:43-48
al'Absi, Mustafa; Lemieux, Andrine; Westra, Ruth et al. (2017) Early life adversity influences stress response association with smoking relapse. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 234:3375-3384
Raatz, Susan K; Jahns, Lisa; Johnson, LuAnn K et al. (2017) Smokers report lower intake of key nutrients than nonsmokers, yet both fall short of meeting recommended intakes. Nutr Res 45:30-37
Wiggert, Nicole; Wilhelm, Frank H; Nakajima, Motohiro et al. (2016) Chronic Smoking, Trait Anxiety, and the Physiological Response to Stress. Subst Use Misuse 51:1619-1628
Lemieux, Andrine; Olson, Leif; Nakajima, Motohiro et al. (2016) Life adversity is associated with smoking relapse after a quit attempt. Addict Behav 60:71-7
al'Absi, Mustafa; Nakajima, Motohiro; Allen, Sharon et al. (2015) Sex differences in hormonal responses to stress and smoking relapse: a prospective examination. Nicotine Tob Res 17:382-9
al'Absi, Mustafa; Lemieux, Andrine; Nakajima, Motohiro et al. (2015) Circulating leptin and pain perception among tobacco-dependent individuals. Biol Psychol 107:10-5
Lemieux, Andrine M; Li, Bingshuo; al'Absi, Mustafa (2015) Khat use and appetite: an overview and comparison of amphetamine, khat and cathinone. J Ethnopharmacol 160:78-85

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