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

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

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9

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

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Article number	8753
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	15
Issue number	1
Early online date	13 Mar 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 13 Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Galvanic stimulation
Visceral adipose tissue
Neuromodulation
Vestibular nerve stimulation
Obesity
Vestibular
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Humans
Middle Aged
Male
Vestibular Nerve - physiology
Overweight - therapy
Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods
Weight Loss
Obesity - therapy
Adult
Female
Aged
Obesity/therapy
Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods
Overweight/therapy
Vestibular Nerve/physiology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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41598_2025_Article_92744.pdfFinal published version, 1.62 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Viirre, E., Sittlington, J., Wing, D., Price, R., Logue, C., Moreno, D., Ledford-Mills, J., Knott, C., le Roux, C. W., Grieve, D., Watson, S., McKeown, J., & McGeoch, P. D. (2025). Non-invasive vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) reduces visceral adipose tissue: results of a randomised controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-10. Article 8753. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9

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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.",

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author = "Erik Viirre and Julie Sittlington and David Wing and Ruth Price and Caomhan Logue and Daniel Moreno and Jeff Ledford-Mills and Cynthia Knott and {le Roux}, {Carel W.} and David Grieve and Sinead Watson and Jason McKeown and McGeoch, {Paul D.}",

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Viirre, E, Sittlington, J, Wing, D, Price, R , Logue, C, Moreno, D, Ledford-Mills, J, Knott, C, le Roux, CW, Grieve, D, Watson, S, McKeown, J & McGeoch, PD 2025, 'Non-invasive vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) reduces visceral adipose tissue: results of a randomised controlled trial', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, 8753, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9

TY - JOUR

T1 - Non-invasive vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) reduces visceral adipose tissue: results of a randomised controlled trial

AU - Viirre, Erik

AU - Sittlington, Julie

AU - Wing, David

AU - Price, Ruth

AU - Logue, Caomhan

AU - Moreno, Daniel

AU - Ledford-Mills, Jeff

AU - Knott, Cynthia

AU - le Roux, Carel W.

AU - Grieve, David

AU - Watson, Sinead

AU - McKeown, Jason

AU - McGeoch, Paul D.

PY - 2025/3/13

Y1 - 2025/3/13

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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KW - Vestibular

KW - Intra-Abdominal Fat

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KW - Middle Aged

KW - Male

KW - Vestibular Nerve - physiology

KW - Overweight - therapy

KW - Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods

KW - Weight Loss

KW - Obesity - therapy

KW - Adult

KW - Female

KW - Aged

KW - Obesity/therapy

KW - Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods

KW - Overweight/therapy

KW - Vestibular Nerve/physiology

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DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-92744-9

M3 - Article

C2 - 40082596

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 15

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 8753

ER -

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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