Intravenous infusion of bombesin reduces food intake in humans.

Infusion of bombesin into healthy young men at two dosages (1.33 and 4.0 ng.kg-1.min-1) resulted in a significant 135-g reduction in intake of a yogurt and fruit blend, compared with saline infusions, at the higher dose, but only a 20-g (nonsignificant) reduction at the lower dose. There were no overt side effects, although half of the subjects reported a slightly elevated (mean elevation = 0.5 on a 1-5 category scale) sick sensation when receiving bombesin at the higher dose, but not when receiving saline. At the higher dose, the mean palatability of the test meal was reduced by 0.5 units on a nine-point scale of liking. This study demonstrates for the first time in humans that a slow intravenous infusion of bombesin can decrease spontaneous food intake when infused at the rate of 4 ng.kg-1.min-1 beginning at the onset of a meal. These results confirm that the short-term satiety effect of peripherally administered bombesin previously reported in animals can be obtained in humans.