Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation modulates stress-induced plasma ghrelin levels: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) has emerged as a potential treatment strategy for patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders. Ghrelin is a hormone that has been postulated to be a biomarker of stress. While the mechanisms of action of tcVNS are unclear, we hypothesized that tcVNS reduces the levels of ghrelin in response to stress.

Methods

Using a randomized double-blind approach, we studied the effects of tcVNS on ghrelin levels in individuals with a history of exposure to traumatic stress. Participants received either sham (n = 29) or active tcVNS (n = 26) after exposure to acute personalized traumatic script stress and mental stress challenges (public speech, mental arithmetic) over a three day period.

Results

There were n

SUBMITTER: Moazzami K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10698687 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature