Have any supplements been studied for food addiction?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    One trial studied the effects of a specific probiotic on food addiction in participants with obesity who had undergone weight-loss surgery; one year later, the participants who received the probiotic maintained lower food addiction and binge eating scores than the participants who received a placebo. However, the study had limitations; for example, the probiotics were assessed only after surgery, and changes in gut microbiota were not analyzed.

    One trial has evaluated a probiotic for FA. The participants in this double-blind placebo-controlled RCT were on people with obesity who underwent weight-loss surgery. The study analyzed the impact of 90 days of supplementation with a specific probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07) on food addiction and binge eating scores, both 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Both placebo and probiotic groups showed reduced YFAS scores at the 3-month mark. However, those receiving probiotics maintained significantly lower YFAS and binge eating scores 1 year after the intervention.[1] It’s important to note that this study had some limitations: the effectiveness of probiotics was assessed post-bariatric-surgery, not as a standalone intervention, and changes in the gut microbiota were not analyzed.

    Have any supplements been studied for food addiction? - Examine