Appetite Regulation by Human Chemosignals From Tears and Plasma

Seoul National University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Biological: Sniffing fasting plasma; Biological: Sniffing postprandial plasma; Biological: Sniffing emotional tears; Biological: Sniffing trickled saline

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01389869

H-1105-011-360

Details and patient eligibility

About

Obesity is closely related to metabolic diseases and its prevalence is sharply increasing. However, there is no safe and effective treatment for obesity so far, the investigators need a breakthrough idea to curtail the constant threat of obesity. It has been recently demonstrated that emotional tears of women can modify sexual responses, one of basic instincts, in men. As appetite and food intake is another basic instinct, chemosignals from tears and plasma may modify appetite and eating behavior in humans.

Enrollment: 22 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Woman: Negative for HIV, Syphilis (VDRL), and Hepatitis B and C
• Man: Has a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 kg/m2 to 27 kg/m2, inclusive.

Exclusion criteria

• Woman: Has eyelids inflammation, conjunctivitis, keratitis, lacrimal duct obstruction. Has skin diseases around eyes.
• Man: Has diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia on medication. Received gastrointestinal surgery except appendectomy and hemorrhoidectomy.

Trial design

22 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Tears

Experimental group

Description:

Emotional tears of female volunteers while watching sad video clips

Treatment:

Biological: Sniffing emotional tears

Saline

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Saline collected after being trickled down women's skin below eyes like tears

Treatment:

Biological: Sniffing trickled saline

Fasting

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Their own overnight fasting plasma of male volunteers

Treatment:

Biological: Sniffing fasting plasma

Prandial

Experimental group

Description:

Their own postprandial plasma of male volunteers

Treatment:

Biological: Sniffing postprandial plasma