Does Salt Intake Improve Mood

Swansea University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Salt Intake; Mood

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Water; Biological: No water consumed; Other: Placebo capsule; Dietary Supplement: Sodium Chloride

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03467568

DB-0123-SALT

Details and patient eligibility

About

Humans display a preference for salt although the reasons remain unclear. The aim was to examine the hypothesis that salt may enhance mood. The study compares the drinking of water with and without electrolytes (either dissolved in water or by capsule). Mood was rated over a period of 155 minutes

Full description

Study 1. 120 young adults will be were recruited. They will arrive in the laboratory at 0900 having consumed their normal breakfast. Over the morning they will reported their mood by responding to one hundred millimetre visual analogue scales anchored with the words: Composed/Anxious; Hostile/Agreeable; Elated/Depressed; Unsure/Confident; Energetic/Tired; Confused/Clearheaded. These dimensions of mood came from the factor analysis that formed the basis of the Profile of Mood State questionnaire. An overall measure of mood will be calculated. .

Randomly they will receive either a 150ml glass of water, or an equivalent volume of water containing electrolytes (in total 150mg sodium chloride and 45mg potassium chloride (Gatorade G2 Low calorie (34 kcal) Thirst Quencher, Pepsico). This drink will be consumed for a first time after 50 minutes, and a second time after 140 minutes. A estimate of habitual salt preference will be gained by responding to questions concerning the adding of salt to meals and a preference for salty foods.

Study 2: One hundred and twenty young adults will be recruited. A second study attempts to replicate the first in a double-blind trial where the taste of salt was hidden by using a capsule. . Participants will be assigned to one of four experimental conditions; 1) swallowed placebo capsules; 2) swallowed capsules containing electrolyte (300mg sodium chloride); 3) received placebo capsules and plain water; 4) received capsules containing electrolyte and plain water. Each drink will be 150ml of water. The allocation of the type of capsule will be carried out double-blind, determined by computer generated random numbers.

Otherwise the procedure will be identical to study one.

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Self declared in good health -

Exclusion Criteria:

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

120 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Sodium chloride / Water

Active Comparator group

Description:

The sodium chloride / water arm involves 300mg sodium chloride being consumed in a capsule and on two occasions 150ml of water being drunk

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Sodium Chloride

Dietary Supplement: Water

Sodium chloride / no water

Active Comparator group

Description:

A capsule containing 300mg of sodium chloride will be consumed but no water will be drunk over the morning

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Sodium Chloride

Biological: No water consumed

Placebo / water

Active Comparator group

Description:

A capsule containing a placebo will be consumed and on two occasions 150ml of water will be drunk

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Water

Other: Placebo capsule

Placebo / no water

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

A capsule containing a placebo will be consumed but no water will be drunk over the morning

Treatment:

Biological: No water consumed

Other: Placebo capsule