What is Neuropeptide Y?

A 36-amino-acid brain and nerve peptide involved in appetite, stress and blood-vessel tone; studied as an intranasal spray.

Neuropeptide Y in the library · · Human Trials · What are peptides?

5 registered trials · 169 indexed papers · 523 human / 1279 animal studies

From the PeptideWhiz library entry. "As described" sections summarize claims made in the sources; they are not PeptideWhiz endorsements.

What it is

A 36-amino-acid brain and nerve peptide involved in appetite, stress and blood-vessel tone; studied as an intranasal spray.

Type: Neuropeptide.

Definition (National Library of Medicine)

“A 36-amino acid peptide present in many organs and in many sympathetic noradrenergic neurons. It has vasoconstrictor and natriuretic activity and regulates local blood flow, glandular secretion, and smooth muscle activity. The peptide also stimulates feeding and drinking behavior and influences secretion of pituitary hormones.”

MeSH: Neuropeptide Y

Human research

The registered human trials and peer-reviewed human studies linked below are listed from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed. A study is linked only when Neuropeptide Y is one of its interventions, or is named in the study title or subject headings.

Listing a study does not mean it showed a benefit, and it is not medical advice.

Registered human trials (5)

Trial	Phase	Status	Year	Enrolled
Sympathetic Transduction in Obesity-associated Hypertension (OB-HTN)	EARLY_Phase 1	recruiting	2021	100
Sex Differences in Neuropeptide Y Serum, But Not in Fat Intake and Body Mass Index		completed	2020	62
Intranasal Neuropeptide Y in Clinical Trial in Level Two Trauma Patients for PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder	Phase 1/Phase 2	unknown	2019	117
Effect of DPP4 Inhibition on Vasoconstriction	Phase 4	completed	2015	18
A Dose Escalation Study of Intranasal Neuropeptide Y in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)	Phase 1	completed	2012	26

Peer-reviewed studies (169)

Paper	Authors	Journal	Year	Type
Prevalence and Determinants of Female Sexual Dysfunction, and Its Association With Neurotrophic Biomarkers in Gynaecological Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study	Singh N et al.	Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center	2026	Observational Study
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant treatment for alcohol use disorder	Schuch JB et al.	Revista brasileira de psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)	2025	Randomized Controlled Trial
Non-Invasive Auricular Acupoint Stimulation Improves Slow-Transit Constipation: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial	Tang K et al.	Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research	2025	Randomized Controlled Trial
Tragus Nerve Stimulation Attenuates Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Post COVID-19 Infection	Wang Z et al.	Clinical cardiology	2025	Randomized Controlled Trial
Sensory Symptoms as an Early Manifestation of Active Vitiligo: A Case-Control Clinical and Molecular Study	El Sayed H et al.	Pigment cell & melanoma research	2025	Observational Study
Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on neuropeptide Y plasma levels in stressed individuals	Østergaard HD et al.	Journal of psychiatric research	2025	Randomized Controlled Trial
Plasma neuropeptide Y levels and adverse clinical outcomes after acute ischaemic stroke	Dong W et al.	European journal of neurology	2025	Randomized Controlled Trial
[Clinical efficacy of intranasal acupuncture combined with Tiaoshen acupuncture in the treatment of moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis]	Dong BY et al.	Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research	2024	Randomized Controlled Trial
Greater lactate accumulation does not alter peripheral concentrations of key appetite-regulating neuropeptides	McCarthy SF et al.	Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)	2024	Randomized Controlled Trial
[Nape seven needles combined with pressing moxibustion for cervical vertigo: a randomized controlled trial]	Jiang T et al.	Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion	2024	Randomized Controlled Trial
Pain-related single nucleotide polymorphisms: association with lumbar spinal stenosis patient experience and non-surgical treatment outcomes	Ernst S et al.	European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society	2024	Observational Study
Relation of plasma neuropeptide-Y with myocardial function and infarct severity in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction	Tiller C et al.	European journal of internal medicine	2024	Observational Study
Gene-diet interaction in response to defatted flaxseed flour supplementation on obesity-related traits in Chinese overweight and obese adults: A randomized controlled trial	Kuang X et al.	Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)	2023	Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of decaffeinated green coffee extract supplementation on anthropometric indices, blood glucose, leptin, adiponectin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in breast cancer survivors: a randomized clinical trial	Bahmannia M et al.	Food & function	2022	Randomized Controlled Trial
Kinetics of neuropeptide Y, catecholamines, and physiological responses during moderate and heavy intensity exercises	Eugster PJ et al.	Neuropeptides	2022	Randomized Controlled Trial
Neuropeptide Y Plays an Important Role in the Relationship Between Brain Glucose Metabolism and Brown Adipose Tissue Activity in Healthy Adults: A PET/CT Study	Zhang Q et al.	Frontiers in endocrinology	2021	Controlled Clinical Trial
Serum levels of neuropeptide Y in patients with chronic schizophrenia during treatment augmentation with sarcosine (results of the double-blind randomized controlled PULSAR study)	Strzelecki D et al.	Human psychopharmacology	2021	Randomized Controlled Trial
Association of Protein and Genetic Biomarkers With Response to Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections in Subjects With Axial Low Back Pain	Schaaf S et al.	American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation	2021	Observational Study
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intranasal Neuropeptide Y in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder	Mathé AA et al.	The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology	2020	Randomized Controlled Trial
[Effect of a Mediterranean-pattern diet on the metabolic response secondary to weight loss; role of the single nucleotide polymorphism (rs16147) of neuropeptide Y]	Primo Martín D et al.	Nutricion hospitalaria	2020	Randomized Controlled Trial
Assessment of stress markers in restrained individuals following physical stress with and without sham CED activation	Sloane C et al.	Journal of forensic and legal medicine	2020	Randomized Controlled Trial
Altered features of neurotransmitters: NPY, α-MSH, and AgRP in type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension	Li B et al.	The Journal of international medical research	2020	Observational Study
Coronary Sinus Neuropeptide Y Levels and Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Stable Chronic Heart Failure	Ajijola OA et al.	JAMA cardiology	2020	Observational Study
The effects of grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) supplement on inflammatory markers, neuropeptide Y, anthropometric measures, and appetite in obese or overweight individuals: A randomized clinical trial	Parandoosh M et al.	Phytotherapy research : PTR	2020	Randomized Controlled Trial
Prognostic Value of Serum NPY Hypermethylation in Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial	Appelt AL et al.	American journal of clinical oncology	2020	Randomized Controlled Trial
Neuropeptide Y and dipeptidyl peptidase IV in normally cycling and postmenopausal women: A prospective pilot study	Kluess HA et al.	Medicine	2019	Observational Study
DPP (Dipeptidyl Peptidase)-4 Inhibition Potentiates the Vasoconstrictor Response to NPY (Neuropeptide Y) in Humans During Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibition	Hubers SA et al.	Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)	2018	Randomized Controlled Trial
[Effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type and the concentrations of plasma NPY and UII in the patients treated with the modified acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9)]	Wang Y et al.	Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion	2018	Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Dietary Acute Tryptophan Depletion (ATD) on NPY Serum Levels in Healthy Adult Humans Whilst Controlling for Methionine Supply-A Pilot Study	Wong JWY et al.	Nutrients	2018	Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Dose-Ranging Study of Neuropeptide Y in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	Sayed S et al.	The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology	2018	Randomized Controlled Trial

More cited research

HSV-1 Infection Differentially Modulates NPY and VIP Neuropeptide Expression in the Mouse Brain and in Human Neuronal Cells (2026, human observational)
Serum kisspeptin, leptin, neuropeptide Y, and neurokinin B levels in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (2022, human observational)
Comment on: levels of dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26 substrates neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal peptide in rheumatoid arthritis patients (2015, human observational)
Levels of dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26 substrates neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal peptide in rheumatoid arthritis patients (2013, human observational)
Implications of neuropeptide Y in the regulation of testicular functions in wall lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis (2026, animal)
Intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y suppresses luteinizing hormone pulses in mice (2026, animal)
Early Development of Hypothalamic Neurons Expressing Proopiomelanocortin Peptides, Neuropeptide Y, and Kisspeptin in Fetal Rhesus Macaques (2025, animal)
Multifaceted role and regulation of neuropeptide Y in the ovary of wall lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis (2025, animal)

Conditions researched

Related compounds

FAQ

What is Neuropeptide Y?

A 36-amino-acid brain and nerve peptide involved in appetite, stress and blood-vessel tone; studied as an intranasal spray.

How many registered human trials study Neuropeptide Y?

The PeptideWhiz trial index lists 5 registered trials for Neuropeptide Y, the most recent from 2021.

How much published research exists on Neuropeptide Y?

The PeptideWhiz paper index links 169 PubMed papers to Neuropeptide Y; by study type, 523 human and 1279 animal studies.

Which conditions is Neuropeptide Y researched for?

Anxiety and panic, Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease & high blood pressure, Chronic and systemic inflammation, Concussion, traumatic brain injury & stroke recovery, Dementia, Alzheimer's & cognitive decline, Eczema, Fat loss, obesity & body recomposition, Fatty liver & elevated liver enzymes, Female fertility, Fight-or-flight and nervous system overdrive, Gut: IBD (Crohn's, colitis), leaky gut, IBS & ulcers, Heart repair: after heart attack, heart failure & enlarged heart, High cholesterol and statins, Immune system (general), Insulin resistance, prediabetes & type 2 diabetes, Kidney protection (CKD, diabetic kidney, lupus kidney), Low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension, Migraine, Pancreatitis (after the acute phase), PCOS, Post-surgical inflammation and surgery recovery, POTS and dysautonomia, Raynaud's, Rheumatoid arthritis, Seasonal allergies, Sexual function & libido (women and men), Skin, hair loss, wounds & mast-cell/histamine reactivity, Sleep problems (incl. insomnia on peptides), Thyroid problems.

Research and education only. Not medical advice. No dosing guidance. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov registry and PubMed via the PeptideWhiz index (204,289 studies).