Background. Aversive conditioning impairs the rewarding value of a comfort meal. Our aim is to demonstrate the potential effect of deconditioning to reverse aversive conditioning and restore the hedonic postprandial response. Methods: A sham-controlled, randomised, parallel, single-blind study will be performed on 12 healthy women (6 per group). The rewarding value of a comfort meal will be measured at initial exposure, after aversive conditioning (masked administration of the same meal with a high-fat content) and after a deconditioning intervention (unmasking the aversive conditioning paradigm in the deconditioning group vs sham intervention in the control group). Digestive well-being (primary outcome) will be measured every 10 min before and 60 min after ingestion using graded scales. The effect of deconditioning (change from aversive conditioning to deconditioning) will be compared to sham deconditioning in the control group. Expected results: The comfort meal at first exposure will induce a pleasant postprandial experience, which will be impaired by aversive conditioning; this effect will be reverted by deconditioning and the hedonic value of the comfort meal will be restored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
12
An explanation of the method for aversive conditioning of the comfort meal (masked administration of the meal with a high fat supplement) will be provided.
An explanation of the method for aversive conditioning of the comfort meal (masked administration of the meal with a high fat supplement) will not be provided.
Hospital Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, Spain
Difference in postprandial digestive well-being before and after deconditioning
Change in digestive well-being measured by a 10 cm scale graded from -5 (extremely unpleasant sensation) to +5 (extremely pleasant sensation) in response to a probe meal before and after deconditioning.
Time frame: 120 minutes
Difference in postprandial fullness sensation before and after conditioning
Change in fullness sensation by a 10 cm scale graded from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) in response to a probe meal before and after conditioning.
Time frame: 120 minutes
Change in postprandial mood before and after conditioning
Change in mood measured by a 10 cm scale graded from -5 (negative) to +5 (positive) in response to a probe meal before and after conditioning.
Time frame: 120 minutes
Change in postprandial hunger/satiety before and after conditioning
Change in mood measured by a 10 cm scale graded from -5 (extremely hungry) to +5 (completely satiate) in response to a probe meal before and after conditioning.
Time frame: 120 minutes
Change in postprandial discomfort before and after conditioning
Change in the sensation of discomfort by a 10 cm scale graded from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very much) in response to a probe meal before and after conditioning
Time frame: 120 minutes
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