d-Fenfluramine selectively decreases carbohydrate but not protein intake in obese subjects

Abstract

Studies on normal rats and on obese human subjects exhibiting 'carbohydrate-craving' suggest that brain mechanisms exist allowing appetites for carbohydrates and proteins to be regulated independent of those for calories and for tastes of the carbohydrates. We observe that virtually all of the excess in daily energy intake among these obese people can be accounted for by carbohydrate snacks, and that a serotonin-releasing drug, d-fenfluramine, selectively diminishes the tendency to consume these snacks.