Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study
Background: Aversive conditioning weakens the gratifying value of a comfort meal. The aim was to determine the effect of a cognitive intervention to reverse aversive conditioning and restore hedonic postprandial response. Methods: This was a randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel study...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/23/4962 |
| _version_ | 1797399694215741440 |
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| author | Adoracion Nieto Dan M. Livovsky Fernando Azpiroz |
| author_facet | Adoracion Nieto Dan M. Livovsky Fernando Azpiroz |
| author_sort | Adoracion Nieto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Aversive conditioning weakens the gratifying value of a comfort meal. The aim was to determine the effect of a cognitive intervention to reverse aversive conditioning and restore hedonic postprandial response. Methods: This was a randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel study that was conducted on 12 healthy women (<i>n</i> = 6 in each group). The reward value of a comfort meal was measured on different days: at initial exposure, after aversive conditioning (administration of the same meal with a masked fat overload on the previous day) and after a cognitive intervention (disclosing the aversive conditioning paradigm in the test group vs. no explanation in the control group). The primary outcome, digestive wellbeing, was determined using graded scales at regular intervals before and after ingestion. Results: At initial exposure, the comfort meal produced a rewarding experience that was impaired using aversive conditioning; upon re-exposure to the original meal, the cognitive intervention increased meal wanting and liking; improved digestive wellbeing and mood; tended to reduce postprandial satiety, bloating/fullness; and abolished discomfort/pain, thereby restoring the hedonic value of the comfort meal. By contrast, sham intervention had no effects, and the postprandial sensations remained like the responses to the offending meal. Conclusion: In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that in healthy women, a mild, short-term acquired aversion to a comfort meal can be reversed using a cognitive intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05897411. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:44:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4562b6a1f7e74a44adeb4c8a67b54081 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:44:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-4562b6a1f7e74a44adeb4c8a67b540812023-12-08T15:23:29ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-11-011523496210.3390/nu15234962Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel StudyAdoracion Nieto0Dan M. Livovsky1Fernando Azpiroz2Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, SpainDigestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, SpainDigestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, SpainBackground: Aversive conditioning weakens the gratifying value of a comfort meal. The aim was to determine the effect of a cognitive intervention to reverse aversive conditioning and restore hedonic postprandial response. Methods: This was a randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel study that was conducted on 12 healthy women (<i>n</i> = 6 in each group). The reward value of a comfort meal was measured on different days: at initial exposure, after aversive conditioning (administration of the same meal with a masked fat overload on the previous day) and after a cognitive intervention (disclosing the aversive conditioning paradigm in the test group vs. no explanation in the control group). The primary outcome, digestive wellbeing, was determined using graded scales at regular intervals before and after ingestion. Results: At initial exposure, the comfort meal produced a rewarding experience that was impaired using aversive conditioning; upon re-exposure to the original meal, the cognitive intervention increased meal wanting and liking; improved digestive wellbeing and mood; tended to reduce postprandial satiety, bloating/fullness; and abolished discomfort/pain, thereby restoring the hedonic value of the comfort meal. By contrast, sham intervention had no effects, and the postprandial sensations remained like the responses to the offending meal. Conclusion: In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that in healthy women, a mild, short-term acquired aversion to a comfort meal can be reversed using a cognitive intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05897411.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/23/4962Pavlovian conditioningaversive conditioningcognitive interventioneating behaviourdigestive sensationspostprandial symptoms |
| spellingShingle | Adoracion Nieto Dan M. Livovsky Fernando Azpiroz Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study Nutrients Pavlovian conditioning aversive conditioning cognitive intervention eating behaviour digestive sensations postprandial symptoms |
| title | Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study |
| title_full | Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study |
| title_fullStr | Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study |
| title_short | Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study |
| title_sort | reversal of conditioned food aversion using a cognitive intervention a sham controlled randomized parallel study |
| topic | Pavlovian conditioning aversive conditioning cognitive intervention eating behaviour digestive sensations postprandial symptoms |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/23/4962 |
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