The effects of omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in 60 women with GDM. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to intake either 2 x 1,000 mg/day omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil containing 400 mg α-linolenic acid in each capsule (n=30) or placebo (n=30) for 6 weeks. Omega-3 fatty acids intake upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (P<0.001) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (P=0.004), and downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (P=0.002) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (P=0.001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids supplementation reduced fasting plasma glucose (P=0.001), insulin levels (P=0.001) and insulin resistance (P<0.001), and increased insulin sensitivity (P=0.005) when compared with the placebo. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids supplementation was associated with a decrease in triglycerides (P<0.001), VLDL-cholesterol (P<0.001), total cholesterol (P=0.01) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P=0.01) when compared with placebo. Omega-3 fatty acids administration was also associated with a significant reduction in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (P=0.006) and malondialdehyde (P<0.001), and an increase in total nitrite (P<0.001) and total glutathione levels…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 60 participants or records.
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