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

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 < 0.001) and LDL receptor (P = 0.004) and down-regulated gene expression of IL-1 (P = 0.002) and TNF-alpha (P = 0.001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. In addition, n-3 fatty acid supplementation reduced fasting plasma glucose (P = 0.001), insulin levels (P = 0.001) and insulin resistance (P < 0.001) and increased insulin sensitivity (P = 0.005) when compared with the placebo. Additionally, n-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with a decrease in TAG (P < 0.001), VLDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001), total cholesterol (P = 0.01) and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0.01) when compared with placebo. n-3 Fatty acid administration was also associated with a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.006) and malondialdehyde (P < 0.001), and an increase in total nitrite (P < 0.001) and total glutathione levels (P = 0.006) 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.