The purpose of this study is to determine whether essential polyunsaturated acids (omega 3) are capable of reducing chocolate craving symptoms in healthy patients. Our hypothesis is that the omega 3 fatty acids have properties which stabilize and normalize neuronal functioning in many conditions, including chocolate craving.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (of the omega 3 subtype) are fundamental in human diet, as they are components of cellular membranes, guaranteeing their fluidity and their functions of separating intracellular and extracellular means and transporting several substances to and from cellular microenvironment. Modern theories profess that lack of omega 3 fatty acids in western diets may be the cause of several deletery changes in neuronal physiology, which may cause or make worse several pathological conditions, such as depression, mood instability, and drug craving. The role of serotonin as the main lacking component in the conditions is well documented, and it is thought that omega 3 is important in the synthesis, transportation, and ultimately the activity of this neurotransmitter. Out theory states that supplementation with these acids can restore normal neuron balance, improving the condition of chocolate craving patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
30
3 g (3 capsules/day) of flax oil for a period of 8 weeks
3 capsules of mineral oil (ineffective) for 8 weeks.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo); Departamento de Psicobiologia (Department of Psychobiology)
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Changes in the MBES score (used to quantify chocolate compulsion) from baseline.
The MBES is an objective scale used to quantify compulsion and classify chocolate cravers in three categories: low, moderate and severe cravers. The scale was applied to all volunteers at baseline and 2 months after enrollment in the study, and comparisons were made to establish if there was efficacy of treatment with omega 3 when compared with placebo (with decreased grades in the MBES scale).
Time frame: 2 months after enrollment
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