Fish oil-supplementation increases appetite in healthy adults. A randomized controlled cross-over trial

• Published in: Appetite 2013-07, Vol.66, p.62-66
• Main Authors: Damsbo-Svendsen, Signe, Rønsholdt, Mia Dybkjær, Lauritzen, Lotte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; adults; appetite; Appetite - drug effects; breakfast; cachexia; compliance; Cross-Over Studies; Denmark; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Female; females; fish; fish oils; Humans; Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; Male; nutritional status; obesity; omega-3 fatty acids; patients; Postprandial Period; Reference Values; Satiety; Satiety Response - drug effects; sensation; Sex Distribution; soybean oil; Weight control; women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.02.019

•The first cross-over trial on effects on appetite sensation in healthy men and women.•Post-prandial sensation of being full was 20% lower after 3weeks fish oil vs. soy oil.•In women, fish oil also induced a 1.5× increased desire to eat more after a test meal.•This new fish oil effect may give clues to its CNS-modulating mechanism.•If verified, fish oil may be used to stimulate appetite e.g. in cancer cachexia. Marine n-3 fatty acids are hypothesized to have beneficial effects on obesity and cancer cachexia possibly via an effect on appetite. The aim of this study was to investigate, if fish oil-supplementation affects appetite in healthy individuals. In a randomized cross-over study, 20 normal-weight subjects (50% females) were given ten 0.5-mL capsules/day of fish oil or soybean oil for 3weeks separated by 1-week wash-out. In the end of each period, appetite was assessed by 10-cm visual analog scales immediately before and after a standardized breakfast. Results were analyzed in accordance with the paired design considering oil sequence and gender. All subjects completed both periods with a compliance of 96% and oil sequence did not affect the results. There was no difference between the two supplements in any pre-breakfast appetite scores, but the post-prandial sensation of being full was 1.21cm (0.20; 2.22) lower after the fish oil-period. Furthermore, there was a supplement×gender-interaction on “desire to eat more” due to a score increase of 1.09cm (0.28; 1.90) in women only. These results suggest that marine n-3 fatty acid may increase appetite. This finding would be potentially beneficial for patients with compromised nutritional status.