Craving for menthol sweets: a case report. / Craving por mentolados: a propósito de un caso.

We describe a case of craving for menthol sweets in a 53-year-old woman with excessive consumption of menthol sweets (100 units/day). She was admitted with a history of rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, anxiety associated with onychophagia and pinching of the skin. Organic disorders were ruled out with paraclinical tests and in-hospital treatment was administered. At discharge, the patient's condition was stable, but because of exacerbated pain due to the rheumatological disease, she presented depressive symptoms, requiring her medication to be adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: The "food craving" and anxiety present pathophysiological similarities. Mints have different mechanisms or ways in which they can counteract or control these symptoms, including an increase in serotonin, binding to GABA-A receptors and stimulation of the nicotinic receptor in nerve cells.

Craving por mentolados: a propósito de un caso

Se describe un caso de craving por dulces mentolados, una paciente de 53 arios con cuadro de consumo excesivo de dulces mentolados (100 unidades/día). Ingresó con el antecedente de artritis reumatoide, con obesidad, en estado de ansiedad asociado con onicofagia y pellizcos de la piel. Se descartó la organicidad mediante paraclínicos y se le dio asistencia hospitalaria. Al alta, la paciente estaba estable; sin embargo, por progresión del dolor por la enfermedad reumática, ha sufrido síntomas depresivos, por lo que ha requerido ajuste de la medicación. Conclusiones: El food craving y la ansiedad presentan similitudes fisiopatológicas. Las mentas tienen distintos mecanismos o modos en que pueden contrarrestar o controlar estos síntomas, entre los que está el aumento de serotonina, la unión a receptores GABA-A y la estimulación del receptor nicotínico en las células nerviosas.

We describe a case of craving for menthol sweets in a 53-year-old woman with excessive consumption of menthol sweets (100 units/day). She was admitted with a history of rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, anxiety associated with onychophagia and pinching of the skin. Organic disorders were ruled out with paraclinical tests and in-hospital treatment was administered. At discharge, the patient's condition was stable, but because of exacerbated pain due to the rheumatological disease, she presented depressive symptoms, requiring her medication to be adjusted. Conclusions: The "food craving" and anxiety present pathophysiological similarities. Mints have different mechanisms or ways in which they can counteract or control these symptoms, including an increase in serotonin, binding to GABA-A receptors and stimulation of the nicotinic receptor in nerve cells.