Tianxiao Shen, Xinyue Tang, Yixin Pan, Hua He, Kejia Hu
{"title":"Effect of vagus nerve stimulation on metabolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Tianxiao Shen, Xinyue Tang, Yixin Pan, Hua He, Kejia Hu","doi":"10.1038/s41366-025-01871-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has long been a standard surgical procedure for patients with treatment-resistant depression or epilepsy. However, several studies have confirmed a side-effect of VNS treatment as weight loss. Animal model studies (e.g., rats, minipigs) and clinical trials have shown promising outcomes regarding weight and appetite, but further statistical analysis is limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched PubMed and several databases for rat model studies, minipig model studies, and human trials between 1966 and March 2024. All reported changes in weight, appetite, and energy expenditure were assessed. Meta-analysis was employed to calculate the overall pooled effects across studies with different durations or measurements.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 529 papers identified, 15 studies were eligible for this meta-analysis, including 12 animal trials and 4 human randomized controlled trials (RCTs). VNS showed a significant effect on reducing weight gain in both animal models (rats 95% CI -0.91 to -0.27, I<sup>2</sup> = 88%, Z = 3.60, P = 0.0003; minipigs 95% CI -209.17 to -36.61, I<sup>2</sup> = 98%, Z = 2.79, P = 0.005) and human trials (95% CI 1.06 to 2.07, I<sup>2</sup> = 98%, Z = 6.11, P < 0.00001). VNS also significantly reduced appetite (95% CI -6.47 to -5.82, I<sup>2</sup> = 95%, Z = 36.91, P < 0.00001) and changed energy expenditure (95% CI -2.83 to -0.81, I<sup>2</sup> = 80%, Z = 3.53, P = 0.0004) in the rat model. The effect on human energy expenditure could not be estimated.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>VNS has demonstrated notable impacts on reducing weight, suppressing appetite, and enhancing energy expenditure in rat and minipig models, indicating a promising therapeutic application in addressing metabolic disorders. Human trials also showed the effectiveness and safety of VNS on metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":14183,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Obesity","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01871-w","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has long been a standard surgical procedure for patients with treatment-resistant depression or epilepsy. However, several studies have confirmed a side-effect of VNS treatment as weight loss. Animal model studies (e.g., rats, minipigs) and clinical trials have shown promising outcomes regarding weight and appetite, but further statistical analysis is limited.
Methods: We searched PubMed and several databases for rat model studies, minipig model studies, and human trials between 1966 and March 2024. All reported changes in weight, appetite, and energy expenditure were assessed. Meta-analysis was employed to calculate the overall pooled effects across studies with different durations or measurements.
Results: Of the 529 papers identified, 15 studies were eligible for this meta-analysis, including 12 animal trials and 4 human randomized controlled trials (RCTs). VNS showed a significant effect on reducing weight gain in both animal models (rats 95% CI -0.91 to -0.27, I2 = 88%, Z = 3.60, P = 0.0003; minipigs 95% CI -209.17 to -36.61, I2 = 98%, Z = 2.79, P = 0.005) and human trials (95% CI 1.06 to 2.07, I2 = 98%, Z = 6.11, P < 0.00001). VNS also significantly reduced appetite (95% CI -6.47 to -5.82, I2 = 95%, Z = 36.91, P < 0.00001) and changed energy expenditure (95% CI -2.83 to -0.81, I2 = 80%, Z = 3.53, P = 0.0004) in the rat model. The effect on human energy expenditure could not be estimated.
Conclusion: VNS has demonstrated notable impacts on reducing weight, suppressing appetite, and enhancing energy expenditure in rat and minipig models, indicating a promising therapeutic application in addressing metabolic disorders. Human trials also showed the effectiveness and safety of VNS on metabolism.
背景：迷走神经刺激（VNS）长期以来一直是治疗难治性抑郁症或癫痫患者的标准手术方法。然而，一些研究已经证实了VNS治疗的副作用是体重减轻。动物模型研究（如大鼠、迷你猪）和临床试验在体重和食欲方面显示出有希望的结果，但进一步的统计分析有限。方法：检索PubMed和多个数据库，检索1966年至2024年3月期间的大鼠模型研究、迷你猪模型研究和人体试验。评估了所有报告的体重、食欲和能量消耗的变化。采用荟萃分析来计算不同持续时间或测量值的研究的总体合并效应。结果：在529篇论文中，有15项研究符合本荟萃分析的条件，包括12项动物试验和4项人类随机对照试验（rct）。VNS在动物模型（大鼠95% CI -0.91 ~ -0.27, I2 = 88%, Z = 3.60, P = 0.0003；迷你猪95% CI -209.17 ~ -36.61, I2 = 98%, Z = 2.79, P = 0.005）和人体试验（95% CI 1.06 ~ 2.07, I2 = 98%, Z = 6.11, p2 = 95%, Z = 36.91, p2 = 80%, Z = 3.53, P = 0.0004）中均显示出显著的减重效果。对人体能量消耗的影响无法估计。结论：VNS在大鼠和小型猪模型中显示出显著的减肥、抑制食欲和增加能量消耗的作用，在治疗代谢紊乱方面具有广阔的应用前景。人体试验也显示了VNS对代谢的有效性和安全性。
期刊介绍：
The International Journal of Obesity is a multi-disciplinary forum for research describing basic, clinical and applied studies in biochemistry, physiology, genetics and nutrition, molecular, metabolic, psychological and epidemiological aspects of obesity and related disorders.
We publish a range of content types including original research articles, technical reports, reviews, correspondence and brief communications that elaborate on significant advances in the field and cover topical issues.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
