The progressive loss of body weight appears in many medical conditions including kidney disease, anorexia and cancer. According to a 2010 review in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," anabolic steroids and growth hormones can effectively treat the weight loss associated with these conditions by enhancing appetite. Such treatments, however, can cause unwanted reactions. Nutritional supplements may eventually offer patients an alternative option. Yet, dietary aids may cause side effects as well. Speak with a doctor before taking appetite-enhancing supplements.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients obtained from the diet. According to a 2011 report in "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," these substances increase protein synthesis within muscles -- an anabolic effect. An experiment described in the 2009 volume of the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society" evaluated the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on appetite in people with Alzheimer's disease. Such patients often remain unmotivated to eat despite a recurring pattern of weight loss. In the study, subjects received daily doses of either docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid or an inert treatment. Relative to placebo, the omega-3 fatty acids increased body weight after six months of use. Increases in subjective measures of appetite mediated this effect.
Amino Acids
Amino acids play an important role in building the body's proteins. A 2011 article in the "Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series" notes that consuming these acids, in the form of milk proteins, regulates food intake and blood sugar. This finding suggests that amino acids should affect appetite. An investigation presented in the 1991 edition of the "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand" looked at the effect of the acids on hemodialysis patients. Subjects received essential amino acids for more than a year. Relative to baseline, this treatment enhanced subjective appetite. That enhancement triggered increases in body weight and muscle size. The researchers did not observe any supplement-related side effects in this study, but the long-term impact of amino acids remains unknown.
Thiamin
Vitamin B1, thiamin, is an essential substance needed to control neural transmission. Lack of circulating B1 may cause cancer, according to a 2005 paper in "Oncology Reports." Thiamin deficiency also has psychological effects including confusion and irritability. Weight loss often accompanies these changes. A 1991 study published in the "Journal of Gerontology" assessed whether correcting B1 deficiency would improve appetite. Older adults received either thiamin or placebo for six weeks. Patients given B1 showed improvement in subjective appetite. Increased well-being, weight and energy accompanied this change. The subjects did not experience adverse events caused by thiamin intake. The authors speculated that many unknown cases of B1 deficiency exist and encourage people to have their thiamin levels checked.
Folic Acid
Weight loss affects healthy children in addition to diseased adults. Folate, vitamin B9, contributes to cell regeneration and growth. A 2003 paper in the "Journal of Nutrition," shows that low levels of folate correlate well with symptoms of depression. Eating disorders remain common in depression. These results indicate that enhancing folate, by taking folic acid, may lead to more healthy eating. A study in the 2007 volume of "Pediatrics International" tested the effect of folic acid on undersized children. The kids received either the folic acid or an inert treatment for three weeks. Relative to placebo, folic acid increased subjective measures of appetite. It did not, however, increase body weight. The appetite-enhancing effect disappeared within a month of ending supplementation.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Update on Clinical Trials of Growth Factors and Anabolic Steroids in Cachexia and Wasting; Norleena P. Gullett, et al.; April 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Increases the Rate of Muscle Protein Synthesis in Older Adults; Gordon I. Smith, et al.; February 2011
- "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society"; Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Effects on Weight and Appetite in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease; Gerd Faxen Irving, et al.; January 2009
- "Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series"; Milk Proteins in the Regulation of Body Weight, Satiety, Food Intake and Glycemia; Harvey Anderson, et al.; 2011
- "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand"; Use of Oral Essential Amino Acids in Hemodialysis Patients; Somporn Laorpatanaskul, et al.; February 1991
- "Oncology Reports"; Thiamin Deficiency: A Possible Major Cause of Some Tumors?; Benjamin Y. Lee, et al.; December 2005
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