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 (P=0.006) when compared with the placebo. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation for 6 weeks to women with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation, glycemic control, lipids, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.
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Key Points
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which glucose intolerance occurs in pregnant women without previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus. GDM is usually recognized in the second half of pregnancy. Evidence suggests that the beneficial effects of flaxseed oil supplementation on metabolic profiles are achieved by the modulation of increased β-oxidation of fatty acids, reduced lipogenesis, enhanced immune function and anti-oxidant activity. The aim of this study to evaluate the effect of a 6-week supplementation with 2 g/day flaxseed oil on glycemic control, lipid profile, parameters of inflammation and oxidative stress and gene expression related to metabolic profiles.
It was found that omega-3 fatty acids supplementation during 6 weeks to women with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin, lipids, glycemic control, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. GDM is associated with changes, including increased insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammatory state. This study observed a significant improvement in PPAR-γ and LDLR mRNA expression as well as parameters of glycemic control, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio. The study was not able to find any significant effects on other serum lipids following flaxseed supplementation in women with GDM.
This study showed that the ingestion of flaxseed oil by women with GDM caused a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL-1 expression. It was also effective in improving hs-CRP, NO, GSH and MDA, but did not affect TAC values and gene expression of TGF-β and VEGF.