Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation affects pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory factors, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM).


METHODS
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 56 women with GDM. Subjects were randomly selected to receive either 1000 mg omega-3 fatty acid supplements (containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg docosahexanoic acid) (n = 27) or a placebo (n = 27) for 6 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at study baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention to quantify biochemical variables. Newborn's weight, height, head circumference, Apgar score, and hyperbilirubinemia were determined.


RESULTS
At the end of the 6 weeks, taking omega-3 fatty acid significantly decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (change from baseline: -245.1 ± 1570.5 versus + 913.9 ± 2329.4 ng/mL, p = 0.03) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (-0.4 ± 1.3 versus + 0.6±2.3, p = 0.04) compared with the placebo. Supplementation with omega-3 had a low incidence of hyperbilirubinemiain newborns (7.7% versus 33.3%, p = 0.02) and decreased newborns' hospitalization rate (7.7% versus 33.3%, p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in GDM women had beneficial effects on maternal serum hs-CRP, plasma MDA levels, incidence of newborn's hyperbilirubinemia, and hospitalization.
a Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences , Arak , Iran .
Mehri
M
Jamilian
b Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , I.R. Iran .
Mansooreh
M
Samimi
c Aboriginal and Global Health Research Group, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicines and Dentistry , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Canada .
Fariba
F
Kolahdooz
d Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , I.R. Iran , and.
Farzaneh
F
Khalaji
e Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences , Ardabil , I.R. Iran.
Maryamalsadat
M
Razavi
d Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Kashan , I.R. Iran , and.
Zatollah
Z
Asemi
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D051556:Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
Gestational diabetes; omega-3 fatty acid; pregnancy outcomes; pregnant women; supplementation