Ephedrine is used to help achieve weight control. Data on its true efficacy and mechanisms in altering energy balance in human subjects are limited. We aimed to determine the acute effect of ephedrine on 24-h energy expenditure, mechanical work and urinary catecholamines in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover study. Ten healthy volunteers were given ephedrine (50 mg) or placebo thrice daily during each of two 24-h periods (ephedrine and placebo) in a whole-room indirect calorimeter, which accurately measures minute-by-minute energy expenditure and mechanical work. Measurements were taken of 24-h energy expenditure, mechanical work, urinary catecholamines and binding of (±)ephedrine in vitro to human β1-, β2- and β3-adrenoreceptors. Twenty-four-hour energy expenditure was 3.6% greater (8965±1301 versus 8648±1347 kJ, P< 0.05) with ephedrine than with placebo, but mechanical work was not different between the ephedrine and placebo periods. Noradrenaline excretion was lower with ephedrine (0.032±0.011 μg/mg creatinine) compared with placebo (0.044±0.012 μg/mg creatinine) (P< 0.05). (±)Ephedrine is a relatively weak partial agonist of human β1- and β2-adrenoreceptors, and had no detectable activity at human β3-adrenoreceptors. Ephedrine (50 mg thrice daily) modestly increases energy expenditure in normal human subjects. A lack of binding of ephedrine to β3-adrenoreceptors and the observed decrease in urinary noradrenaline during ephedrine treatment suggest that the thermogenic effect of ephedrine results from direct β1-/β2-adrenoreceptor agonism. An indirect β3-adrenergic effect through the release of noradrenaline seems unlikely as urinary noradrenaline decreased significantly with ephedrine.
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May 1999
Research Article|
April 14 1999
Acute effect of ephedrine on 24-h energy balance
John R. SHANNON
;
John R. SHANNON
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Keith GOTTESDIENER
;
Keith GOTTESDIENER
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Jens JORDAN
;
Jens JORDAN
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Kong CHEN
;
Kong CHEN
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Stacey FLATTERY
;
Stacey FLATTERY
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Patrick J. LARSON
;
Patrick J. LARSON
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Mari Rios CANDELORE
;
Mari Rios CANDELORE
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Barry GERTZ
;
Barry GERTZ
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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David ROBERTSON
;
David ROBERTSON
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
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Ming SUN
1Autonomic Dysfunction Center, AA3228 MCN, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232–2195, U.S.A.
Correspondence: Dr M. Sun.
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Clin Sci (Lond) (1999) 96 (5): 483–491.
Article history
Received:
June 03 1998
Revision Received:
December 09 1998
Accepted:
December 17 1998
Citation
John R. SHANNON, Keith GOTTESDIENER, Jens JORDAN, Kong CHEN, Stacey FLATTERY, Patrick J. LARSON, Mari Rios CANDELORE, Barry GERTZ, David ROBERTSON, Ming SUN; Acute effect of ephedrine on 24-h energy balance. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 May 1999; 96 (5): 483–491. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0960483
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