Impact of Omega 3 in Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most widespread addiction in Belgium and Europe and constitutes a major public health problem with important physical, psychological and economic consequences for the consumer and his family, friends, co-workers.

For several years, the intestinal microbiota has been increasingly studied because it seems to play an indispensable role in the proper functioning of the body. Indeed, it is involved in the regulation of the immune system, metabolic reactions and the nervous system and therefore influences behaviour. The composition of the microbiota is specific to everyone and is influenced by many factors, such as diet, medication and lifestyle.

In the case of AUD, numerous studies have shown that alcohol and its metabolites alter the intestinal microbiota, leading to an increase in inflammation and changes in behaviour.

Nutritional intervention is an encouraging and innovative approach to alcohol addiction therapy. The main aim of this research is to see how a nutritional intervention could improve mood, cognition and social behaviour in AUD patients. The interest will therefore focus on Omega-3. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in the diet, mainly in fish oils, and are constituents of the body's cell membranes and perform many physiological functions. They also play an important role in the regulation of inflammation. Studies have shown that Omega-3 supplementation can reduce symptoms of depression and have beneficial effects in autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. They have therefore been widely studied, but their role in social interactions, which is an important factor in many mental illnesses including AUD, has not yet been studied.

The investigators will conduct a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, testing the impact of Omega-3 supplementation on AUD patients undergoing a detoxification program at the Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. 100 patients will be enrolled and the Omega 3/placebo supplementation will last for 3 months. The patients will be tested 3 times: T1 (2nd day of withdrawal), T2 (18th-19th day of withdrawal) and T3 (after 3 months of supplementation). The investigators hope to see a beneficial effect of omega-3 on social, emotional and cognitive deficits as well as brain functioning (fMRI). They will investigate the mechanisms involved, namely, changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, reduction of systemic inflammation, and production of bacterial metabolites with immune or neuroactive properties.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (≥ 4 DSM-5 criteria)
• Patient at the hospital for a 3 week alcohol withdrawal program
• Gender : male and female
• Age : between 18 and 70 years old
• Language : french
• Alcohol consumption less than 48 jours before admission

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of another addiction, except for smoking and cannabis use
• Presence of a psychiatric comorbidity (axis 1 DSM-5)
• Current or recent use (< 2 months) of antibiotics, probiotics, fibre supplements
• Current or recent (< 2 months) use of omega-3 supplements
• Current or recent (< 2 months) use of oral anti-coagulants drugs
• Current or recent (< 2 months) double anti-platelet therapy
• Coagulation disorders
• Current or recent (< 1 month) use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids
• Morbid obesity : body mass index > 35 kg.m-2
• Bariatric surgery
• Type I diabetes and type II diabetes not stabilised (i.e. glycated haemoglobin > 7.2 and unstable drug treatments)
• Chronic inflammatory diseases
• Cancer (less than 5 years before admission)
• Presence of cirrhosis (Fibroscan® = F4 and echodoppler performed as part of clinical routine on patient admission)
• Known allergy to fish and seafood
• Any other comorbidity that would be a contraindication to the study in the judgement of the principal investigator