Non-invasive vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) reduces visceral adipose tissue: results of a randomised controlled trial

Bibliographic Details
Title: Non-invasive vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) reduces visceral adipose tissue: results of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Erik Viirre, Julie Sittlington, David Wing, Ruth Price, Caomhan Logue, Daniel Moreno, Jeff Ledford-Mills, Cynthia Knott, Carel W. le Roux, David Grieve, Sinead Watson, Jason McKeown, Paul D. McGeoch
Source: Scientific Reports, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2025)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Visceral adipose tissue, Vestibular nerve stimulation, Vestibular, Obesity, Neuromodulation, Galvanic stimulation, Medicine, Science
More Details: Abstract Across multiple species, chronic vestibular stimulation activates hypothalamic regions involved in energy homeostasis and reduces body fat. This first-in-human randomised controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of electrical vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) as a means of reducing excess body weight and fat. Overweight and obese adults were randomised 1:1 to receive 60 min of daily VeNS (n = 117) or sham stimulation (n = 124) for 6 months, together with a hypocaloric diet. The primary endpoints were weight loss based. Secondary endpoints included reduction in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). It is VAT, more than subcutaneous fat depots, which is particularly associated with the risks associated with obesity. The weight loss based primary endpoints were not met. However, mean change in VAT was significantly greater in the active (− 12.6%) versus the sham (− 4.7%) group (p = 0.03). This suggests that regular VeNS may cause a clinically meaningful reduction in VAT.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2045-2322
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/cb1739a3c54f4bd2b19012c9008872fc
Accession Number: edsdoj.b1739a3c54f4bd2b19012c9008872fc
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:20452322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9
Published in:Scientific Reports
Language:English