The effects of n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

摘要

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in sixty women with GDM. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to intake either 2 x 1000 mg/d n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil containing 400 mg alpha-linolenic acid in each capsule (n 30) or placebo (n 30) for 6 weeks. n-3 Fatty acid intake up-regulated PPAR-gamma (P < 0 center dot 001) and LDL receptor (P = 0 center dot 004) and down-regulated gene expression of IL-1 (P = 0 center dot 002) and TNF-alpha (P = 0 center dot 001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. In addition, n-3 fatty acid supplementation reduced fasting plasma glucose (P = 0 center dot 001), insulin levels (P = 0 center dot 001) and insulin resistance (P < 0 center dot 001) and increased insulin sensitivity (P = 0 center dot 005) when compared with the placebo. Additionally, n-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with a decrease in TAG (P < 0 center dot 001), VLDL-cholesterol (P < 0 center dot 001), total cholesterol (P = 0 center dot 01) and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0 center dot 01) when compared with placebo. n-3 Fatty acid administration was also associated with a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0 center dot 006) and malondialdehyde (P < 0 center dot 001), and an increase in total nitrite (P < 0 center dot 001) and total glutathione levels (P = 0 center dot 006) when compared with the placebo. n-3 Fatty acid supplementation for 6 weeks to women with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation, glycaemic control, lipids, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.