The effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on weight loss and cognitive function in overweight or obese individuals on weight-loss diet.

Introduction: Objective: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important nutrients that play role in obesity, body lipids, inflammation, and neural function. There is controversy in studies on the effect of omega-3 PUFA supplementation on weight loss and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of omega-3 PUFA supplementation on weight loss and cognitive function in obese or overweight adults on a weight loss diet. Methods: 40 adult volunteers aged 30-60 years, with body mass index (BMI) between 27.0 and 35.0 kg/m2, were randomly allocated into two groups. All subjects were involved in a weight loss diet program. The subjects in the omega-3 group (n = 20) also received daily supplementation with 1020 mg of omega-3 PUFAs (580 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 390 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 50 mg other omega-3 PUFAs) for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis were obtained at onset and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 of the study. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used for evaluating cognitive functions at diet onset and at the end of week 12. Results: significant decreases were observed in weight, waist, and BMI in both groups. Abdominal fat mass and percentage decreased more in the omega-3 group than in the control group (p ≤ 0.05). MoCA scores increased in both groups within time, without statistical significance between groups. Conclusion: omega-3 PUFA supplementation augmented the reduction of abdominal fat mass and percentage in overweight or obese individuals on a weight loss diet. Further studies are required to identify the relationship and mechanisms of action of omega-3 PUFA supplementation on cognitive performance and weight loss.

Introducción: Objetivo: los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGPI) omega-3 son nutrientes importantes que intervienen en la obesidad, los lípidos corporales, la inflamación y las funciones neuronales. Existe controversia en los estudios sobre el efecto de la suplementación con AGPI omega-3 sobre la pérdida de peso y las funciones cognitivas. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el efecto de la suplementación con ácidos grasos poliinsaturados omega-3 sobre la pérdida de peso y la función cognitiva en adultos obesos o con sobrepeso que siguen una dieta para adelgazar. Métodos: 40 voluntarios adultos de entre 30 y 60 años, con índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre 27,0 y 35,0 kg/m2, fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en dos grupos. Todos los sujetos participaron en un programa de dieta para adelgazar. Los sujetos del grupo con omega-3 (n = 20) también recibieron suplementos diarios de 1020 mg de AGPI omega-3 (580 mg de ácido eicosapentaenoico (AEP), 390 mg de ácido docosahexaenoico (ADH), 50 mg de otros AGPI omega-3) durante 12 semanas. Las mediciones antropométricas y el análisis de la composición corporal se obtuvieron al inicio y a las 4, 8 y 12 semanas del estudio. La prueba de la "Evaluación Cognitiva de Montreal" (MoCA) se utilizó para evaluar las funciones cognitivas al inicio de la dieta y al final de la semana 12. Resultados: se observaron disminuciones significativas en el tiempo en el peso, la cintura y el IMC en ambos grupos. La masa y el porcentaje de grasa abdominal disminuyeron más en el grupo con omega-3 que en el de control (p ≤ 0,05). Las puntuaciones MoCA aumentaron en ambos grupos en el tiempo, sin significación estadística entre los grupos. Conclusión: la suplementación con ácidos grasos poliinsaturados omega-3 aumentó la reducción de la masa y el porcentaje de grasa abdominal en personas con sobrepeso u obesidad que siguieron una dieta para adelgazar. Se necesitan más estudios para identificar la relación y los mecanismos de acción de la suplementación con ácidos grasos poliinsaturados omega-3 sobre el rendimiento cognitivo y la pérdida de peso.

Pain on injection of propofol: a comparison of methylene blue and lidocaine.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether methylene blue, given before injection of propofol, was effective in reducing the frequency and severity of pain associated with propofol injection. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical study. SETTING: Operating room of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 90 adult, ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients undergoing elective surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups of 30 patients each. Group I received 50 mg of methylene blue, Group II received 40 mg of lidocaine, and Group III, the control group, was given normal saline. All drugs were given as a 2.0 mL bolus 45 seconds before propofol administration. MEASUREMENTS: Injection pain using vocal responses, facial grimacing, arm withdrawal, tears, and questioning of the patient were noted. A 4-point scale was used for documenting pain. MAIN RESULTS: Pain frequency was 90% in the saline group, whereas the frequencies were significantly lower in the lidocaine and methylene blue groups (26.7% and 40%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous pretreatment with methylene blue appears to be effective in reducing the pain during propofol injection.