At a glance
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Effect of Vestibular Stimulation on Fat Consumption and Energy Expenditure as Assessed Using Indirect Calorimetry
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Vestibular Nerve Stimulator and Sham stimulator for Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. Completed, enrolled 20 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
There is an ongoing and worsening problem with obesity in the developed, and much of the developing world. Although it has long been realized that Western diets that are rich in sugar and fat play an important role in this, it has only recently been realized that exposure to these diets, particularly in childhood, can damage the part of the brain that determines how much fat there is in the body. The result of this damage is that the so-called "set-point" for fat in this part of the brain is pushed upwards. There is a lot of evidence from animals that activating the brain's balance (vestibular) system pushes this set-point for fat downwards to cause fat loss, probably because this "tricks" the brain into thinking that there is increased physical activity. The aim of this study is to see whether non-invasive electrical stimulation of the vestibular system in human participants causes a change in metabolism of fat and/or energy expenditure, which, if regulated upwards, would suggest this could be used as a means of reducing body fat in humans.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
Electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve with vestibular nerve stimulator (GVS device) for for 45 minutes using binaural mastoid placement.
Looks identical to vestibular nerve stimulator but discharges current into an internal resistor rather than activating the vestibular nerves.