The Gut-brain Axis: a Novel Target for Treating Behavioral Alterations in Obesity (CIDO OEA)
Neural Response in Caudate, Weight Loss Trial, Impulsivity
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Neural Response in Caudate
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Right handed, English speaking, be a non-smoker (never smoked more than 2 cigarettes per month). Subjects will have a Body Mass Index > 25 kg/m2 (overweight/obese). Subjects are in good health. Subjects are able to provide a letter from their physician stating that they have had a physical exam in the past year and are in general good health and have specifically tested in the normal range for thyroid function and Hemoglobin 1Ac (and as such do not suffer from common metabolic disorders). In addition to this we will at intake confirm normal blood pressure, blood sugar and electrolyte balance for every subject.
Exclusion Criteria:
a) serious or unstable medical illness (e.g., cancer); b) past or current history of alcoholism or consistent drug use; c) current and history of major psychiatric illness as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Diploma in Social Medicine-IV criteria including eating disorders, d) medications that affect alertness (e.g., barbiturates, benzodiazepines, chloral hydrate, haloperidol, lithium, carbamazepine, phenytoin, etc.)and any psychoactive drugs or anti-obesity agents; e) history of major head trauma with loss of consciousness; f) ongoing pregnancy; g) known taste or smell dysfunction; h) a diagnosis of diabetes; i) any known food allergy, certain food sensitivities (lactose); j) pregnant or nursing women, k) history of metalworking, injury with shrapnel or metal slivers, and major surgery; l) history of pacemaker or neurostimulator implantation.
Sites / Locations
- The John B Pierce Laboratory
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Phopsholean dietary supplement
Placebo (rice flour) group
Subjects in the Phospholean group will receive six capsules of PhosphoLean orally daily (total of 180 mg of NOPE and 120 mg of EGCG), ); two capsules consumed one hour before lunch, two capsules one hour prior to dinner, and two capsules two hours after dinner.
The control (placebo) group will receive a placebo (identical in appearance, but containing 100 mg of rice flour per capsule).