Does Salt Intake Improve Mood
- Conditions
- Salt IntakeMood
- Interventions
- Other: Placebo capsuleDietary Supplement: Sodium ChlorideBiological: No water consumedDietary Supplement: Water
- Registration Number
- NCT03467568
- Lead Sponsor
- Swansea University
- Brief Summary
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
- Detailed 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 120
Self declared in good health -
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Sodium chloride / no water No water consumed A capsule containing 300mg of sodium chloride will be consumed but no water will be drunk over the morning Placebo / water Placebo capsule A capsule containing a placebo will be consumed and on two occasions 150ml of water will be drunk Sodium chloride / Water Water The sodium chloride / water arm involves 300mg sodium chloride being consumed in a capsule and on two occasions 150ml of water being drunk Sodium chloride / no water Sodium Chloride A capsule containing 300mg of sodium chloride will be consumed but no water will be drunk over the morning Placebo / no water No water consumed A capsule containing a placebo will be consumed but no water will be drunk over the morning Sodium chloride / Water Sodium Chloride The sodium chloride / water arm involves 300mg sodium chloride being consumed in a capsule and on two occasions 150ml of water being drunk Placebo / no water Placebo capsule A capsule containing a placebo will be consumed but no water will be drunk over the morning Placebo / water Water A capsule containing a placebo will be consumed and on two occasions 150ml of water will be drunk
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mood ratings using visual analogue scales Up to three hours On a hundred millimetre scale ratings will be made of with the two ends anchored with the words Agreeable/Hostile, Confused/clearheaded; composed/anxious; depressed/elated; confident/unsure; tired/energetic. Each scales produces a score between 0 and 100. When added to create a total mood score the ratings vary between zero and six hundred with a higher score indicating a better mood
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Ratings of thirst Up to three hours Rating made using a visual analogue scale responding to the question how thirsty do you feel right now? With a high score indicated greater thrist
Body weight Up to three hours Changes in body weight over morning. Scales measuring to the nearest 10g will be used
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Psychology, Swansea University
🇬🇧Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom