We compared orexin and leptin, ACTH and cortisol plasma concentrations (RIA) between tobacco smokers (n = 60) during early nicotine withdrawal and healthy controls (n = 64). Motivational aspects of nicotine craving were additionally assessed in the smoking participants using the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU).
As main results we detected a significant negative correlation between orexin plasma concentration and nicotine craving (r = −0.28; p < .05), and a positive association between craving and leptin plasma concentration (r = 0.29; p < .05).
Our results show an association between craving for nicotine and plasma concentrations of orexin and leptin suggesting that both peptides interfere with the dopaminergic transmission during nicotine withdrawal in a bidirectional manner and, thus, modulate craving for nicotine.