Influence of betahistine repeated administration on a weight gain and selected metabolic parameters in the model of excessive eating in rats

It is important to search for a promising therapeutic target or small molecules that can control excessive eating since limiting the intake of foods, especially tasty ones, could be effective in the treatment or prevention of obesity. Some studies indicate betahistine as an unique drug having the ability to ameliorate, for example, antipsychotic-induced weight gain. This study aimed to determine whether repeated administration of betahistine (histamine H1R agonist and H3R antagonist) could be beneficial in reducing the intake of tasty foods or the body’s response to overeating via mechanisms such as by influencing the levels of hormones involved in the regulation of food intake or the levels of selected metabolic parameters. Studies were performed in the excessive eating model in rats, which perfectly illustrates the harmful high-caloric intake from freely available tasty products rich in sugar and fat. Our results indicated that repeated administration of betahistine to rats caused lower gain of body mass compared to the control rats fed palatable feed. Interestingly, betahistine treatment increased the consumption of cheese, which is a source of histamine. Although betahistine did not prevent the development of metabolic disorders, such as reduced glucose tolerance, in test animals, it significantly increased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which could certainly be considered beneficial. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the effect of repeated administration of betahistine on satiety, gastrointestinal disorders, and the preference for histamine-containing foods.