Fish oils reduce hunger in overweight and obese volunteers on a weight loss diet - From the Department of Physiology and Nutrition at University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain comes the news that long chain omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) are considered nutritional factors with a potential to modulate food intake. Thus, the aim of the current study was to determine whether appetite could be affected by long chain fatty acids when included in a calorie-restricted diet to treat overweight or obesity.

Appetite was explored in volunteers (31+/-5 years; BMI: 28.3+/-1.5kg/m(2)) during the last 2 weeks of an 8-week energy-restricted balanced diet (weight loss=-5.9+/-3.1%) providing either a low (<260mg/day; n=112) or a high amount (>1300mg/day; n=121) of long chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids were measured to detect diet-related changes in fatty acids and a validated visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure hunger sensations directly after and 2h after a test dinner.

• The long chain omega-3 fatty acids content in erythrocyte membrane was lower in the low low in fish oils (10.5+/-2.5% vs. 12.5+/-2.6%; p<0.001) after the intervention.
• The VAS assessment revealed lower hunger sensations in the high fish oil group immediately after the test dinner (fullness: p=0.045) and after 120min (fullness: p=0.008; hunger: p=0.039).
• Correlation analysis showed a positive relation between omega 3 to omega 6 ratio in erythrocyte membrane and fullness 2h postprandial (r=0.139; p=0.032).

In conclusion, fish oils intake modulates postprandial satiety in overweight and obese volunteers during weight loss.

Reference: Parra D, Ramel A, Bandarra N, Kiely M, Martínez JA, Thorsdottir I. A diet rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids modulates satiety in overweight and obese volunteers during weight loss.Appetite. 2008 Jun 14.