Dopamine and food reward: Effects of acute tyrosine/phenylalanine depletion on appetite

► A deficient dopaminergic system may drive compensatory reward-seeking behaviours. ► Acute tyrosine/phenylalanine depletion (ATPD) was used to deplete global dopamine levels. ► The effect of ATPD on eating behaviour in healthy volunteers was examined. ► ATPD was associated with reduced hunger following a fixed-test meal relative to the control condition. ► We found no evidence for compensatory eating following ATPD.