title: A randomized controlled study of the efficacy of 4 weeks of supplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in cases of unexplained oligohydramnios.
abstract: To investigate the effect of ω-3 fatty acids on amniotic fluid volume and uterine artery blood flow after 4 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  
  A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 140 participants with unexplained oligohydramnios at Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt. Participants were randomly assigned to ω-3 plus capsules or placebo. Categorical variables were analyzed by means of the χ2test, whereas continuous variables were analyzed by means of the independent-sample T-test between the two groups.
  
  
  
  One hundred and forty women were recruited. There was significant improvement in the amniotic fluid index (AFI) in the ω-3 plus group in comparison with the placebo group (P=0.001). Moreover, there were significant decreases in the systolic/diastolic ratio (P=0.01), resistance index (P=0.041) and pulsatility index (P=0.002) of the uterine arteries in the ω-3 plus group when comparing baseline values with those after 4 weeks.
  
  
  
  The results suggest that ω-3 fatty acids may have a role in the increase in AFI in cases of unexplained oligohydramnios. This effect may be secondary to the increase in uterine blood flow.
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Ismail
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Ramadan
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Ali
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Abbas
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: El Saman
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Woman's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Makarem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3