title: Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most common complications of pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is increasing worldwide. Experimental and epidemiological studies have shown that higher intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids may decrease the risk of various diseases such as diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fish oil supplementation on the prevention and treatment of GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  This systematic review was performed by searching several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Science Direct SID, Magiran and IranMedex since 1983. The researchers also searched for references in reviewed clinical trial articles in which fish oil supplementation was compared with placebo or no supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only two published and in-press articles are included in this review. Based on these studies, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched ﬁsh oil (800 mg/d) had no effect on prevention of GDM [0.97 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.27)]. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 120 mg DHA had beneficial effects on insulin resistance in women with GDM (change from baseline: 1.5 ± 7.5 vs ‏3.5 ± 8.5 mIU/mL, P = 0.02) but did not influence fasting plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment-Beta cell function (HOMA-B), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), or lipid profiles (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is not enough evidence to support or refute the routine use of fish oil supplements during pregnancy for the prevention or treatment of diabetes. It is suggested that further randomized controlled trials be conducted to evaluate the role of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Center, Health Services Management Research Centre, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostadrahimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Research Center of Social Determinants of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammad-Alizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirgafourvand
authors.affiliation: DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaghoubi
authors.affiliation: Health Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz , IR Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shahrisa
authors.affiliation: Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Azizeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farshbaf-Khalili
keywords: Fish Oil; GDM; Randomized Controlled Trials; Supplementation