title: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Lowers Serum FSH in Normal Weight But Not Obese Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary omega-3 fatty acids delay ovarian aging and promote oocyte quality in mice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test whether dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) modulates reproductive hormones in reproductive-age women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen obese and 12 normal-weight (NW) eumenorrheic women, ages 28-34 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two frequent blood-sampling studies were performed before and after 1 month of omega-3 PUFA supplementation with 4 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid daily.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum LH and FSH (basal and after GnRH stimulation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 PUFA was significantly reduced in plasma and red blood cell components for both groups after treatment (both P < .01). Omega-3 PUFA supplementation resulted in reduction of FSH and FSH response to GnRH by 17% on average (P = .06 and P = .03, respectively) in NW but not obese women. Serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were reduced after omega-3 PUFA supplementation (-72% for IL-1β; -56% for TNF-α; both, P < .05) in obese but not in NW women. This reduction, however, was not associated with a hormonal change in obese women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary administration with omega-3 PUFA decreased serum FSH levels in NW but not in obese women with normal ovarian reserve. This effect is intriguing and is directionally consistent with murine data whereby higher dietary omega-3 PUFA extends reproductive lifespan. Our results imply that this nutritional intervention should be tested in women with diminished ovarian reserve in an attempt to delay ovarian aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Zain A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Al-Safi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Huayu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Nichole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chosich
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robledo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Eckel
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Z.A.A., J.C., A.P.B., C.R., A.J.P.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Biostatistics and Informatics (H.L., N.E.C.), Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado 80045; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (M.H.), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; and Department of Medicine (R.H.E.), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Polotsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D006062:Gonadotropins; C508585:IL1B protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010743:Phospholipids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone