Studying the effects of administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in nicotine dependence.

• Grant number: 10/16491-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: José Carlos Fernandes Galduroz
• Grantee: Juçara Xavier Zaparoli
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A cigarette has over 6,000 toxic substances that can cause various pathologies. The nicotine, present in tobacco can cause dependence and extend the period of exposure to these toxic substances. The CNS is largely composed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from the series omega-3, which demonstrates their importance to physiology and biochemistry of the brain. PUFAs participate in various activities, and one of them is the modulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission: in this deficiency there is a small number of DA vesicles inside structures as the reward system, involved in addiction. Supplementation with these fatty acids can restore the levels in the CNS and it may decrease the craving for nicotine. Objective: The study aim is measure the levels of serum fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6, during the intervention, and to investigate a possible association between increased serum levels of these PUFAs and a reduction of the compulsion for nicotine. Methods: This is a clinical placebo controlled study, double-blind and randomized. Twenty volunteers will take flaxseed oil and 20 will take placebo for 60 days. The serum levels of these fatty acids will be analyzed in the beginning and at the end of the treatment. The compulsion for nicotine will be assessed before, during and after treatment, by means of scales. Student's t Test for dependent samples will check treatment effect. The Pearson's Correlation Test will evaluate the possible relationships between the parameters measured by the Fagerström scale and the level of serum fatty acids. Significance will be set at p <0.05.