Evidence Hub

Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Kiana Sadeghi-Ardekani, M. Haghighi, Rasoul Zarrin

Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2018

27 participants · 22 citations

Abstract

Background: Smoking-induced oxidative stress is thought to contribute to lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and brain tissue. This lower level leads to impaired function in a dopaminergic system related to dependence and craving. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 54 heavy-smoker males (smoke ⩾20 cigarettes per day) were randomly selected to receive either five capsules of fish-oil-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplements (n = 27, each 1 g capsule containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg of docosahexanoic acid) or a placebo (n = 27) for 3 months. The psychometric evaluations (nicotine dependence and cigarette craving), biochemical markers (urinary cotinine, serum total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status) and self-reported smoking status were used to assess the cigarette craving and oxidative stress index (oxidative stress index = total oxidant status/total antioxidant capacity). Results: There was a greater reduction in levels of nicotine dependence, cigarette craving and cigarettes smoked per day in the omega-3 fatty acid group compared to the placebo group, and the difference between the two groups increased from baseline to 3-month follow up. The model estimated that these differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001,…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 27 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free