Anti-obesity effect of irreversible MAO-B inhibitors in patients with Parkinson's disease

Nutr Diabetes. 2024 Nov 14;14(1):92. doi: 10.1038/s41387-024-00317-y.

Abstract

We read with great interest the report on the new anti-obesity potential in mice models of reversible monoamine oxidase B inhibitors by Moonsun et al., as opposed to the lack of such effects observed with irreversible MAO-B inhibitors (iMAO-Bi). Our research aimed to explore the potential anti-obesity effects of iMAO-Bi in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This retrospective study included 37 PD in-patients from 2018 to 2023. Patients who took iMAO-Bi were assigned to the iMAO-Bi group, and those who never took iMAO-Bi were assigned to the control. The major outcomes were changes in body weight and body mass index (BMI) during follow-up. A subgroup analysis was conducted to compare the anti-obesity effect between the short-term and long-term administrations of the iMAO-Bi group. The results showed a slight yet insignificant trend of bodyweight loss among the iMAO-Bi group of PD patients. Subgroup analysis showed that short-term treatment of iMAO-Bi (less than six months) led to reductions in BMI and body weight, while the long-term treatment of iMAO-Bi displayed a slight increase in BMI and body weight. The results suggested that short-term administration of iMAO-Bi may have potential weight-loss effects. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate the weight-loss effect of iMAO-Bi.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Obesity* / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease* / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Anti-Obesity Agents