Insulin But Not Insulin Growth Factor-1 Correlates With Craving in Currently Drinking Alcohol-Dependent Patients
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles) 22 Jan 2008

Preclinical data suggest that brain insulin and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may contribute to the development of addiction. The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the relationships between insulin and IGF-1 plasma concentrations and alcohol craving.

Significant positive correlations between insulin concentrations and craving scores were found in actively drinkers (p <>p <>p <>

This study suggests that insulin could be involved in the neurobiology of alcohol craving and addiction. This characteristic seems specific of insulin since similar data were found on C-peptide but not on IGF-1. Future confirming studies on larger samples are needed, also to investigate possible therapeutic implications.

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