Addictive Behavior, Abstinence Syndrome
Conditions
Keywords
chocolate, craving, addiction, compulsion
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
DRUGFlaxseed oil
3 g (3 capsules/day) of flax oil for a period of 8 weeks
DRUGParaffin + # 2 dye
3 capsules of mineral oil (ineffective) for 8 weeks.
Sponsors
Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Federal University of São Paulo
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Clinical diagnosis of chocolate compulsion or craving, ECAP score \> 12.
Exclusion criteria
* Psychiatric disease of any sort (by the DSM IV criteria, Use of psychoactive drugs of any sort, BMI \> 25 (kg/m2).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in the MBES score (used to quantify chocolate compulsion) from baseline. | 2 months after enrollment | 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). |
Countries
Brazil
Outcome results
None listed