title: Fatty acid amide supplementation decreases impulsivity in young adult heavy drinkers.
abstract: Compromised dopamine signaling in the striatum has been associated with the expression of impulsive behaviors in addiction, obesity and alcoholism. In rodents, intragastric infusion of the fatty acid amide oleoylethanolamide increases striatal extracellular dopamine levels via vagal afferent signaling. Here we tested whether supplementation with PhosphoLean™, a dietary supplement that contains the precursor of the fatty acid amide oleoylethanolamide (N-oleyl-phosphatidylethanolamine), would reduce impulsive responding and alcohol use in heavy drinking young adults. Twenty-two individuals were assigned to a three-week supplementation regimen with PhosphoLean™ or placebo. Impulsivity was assessed with self-report questionnaires and behavioral tasks pre- and post-supplementation. Although self-report measures of impulsivity did not change, supplementation with PhosphoLean™, but not placebo, significantly reduced false alarm rate on a Go/No-Go task. In addition, an association was found between improved sensitivity on the Go/No-Go task and reduced alcohol intake. These findings provide preliminary evidence that promoting fatty acid derived gut-brain dopamine communication may have therapeutic potential for reducing impulsivity in heavy drinkers.
authors.affiliation: The John B Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; University of Groningen, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Kooten
authors.affiliation: The John B Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Veldhuizen
authors.affiliation: The John B Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: de Araujo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.affiliation: The John B Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 09235 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: dana.small@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids; D009829:Oleic Acids; C488250:oleoylethanolamide
keywords: Alcohol; Dopamine; Go/No-Go task; Impulsivity; Inhibitory control; OEA