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Abstract
Objective
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on mental health parameters and metabolic status of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods
This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with PCOS, aged 18–40 years old. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either 2 × 1000 mg/day fish oil omega-3 fatty acid (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) after lunch for 12 weeks. Metabolic profiles were quantified at baseline and after the 12-week intervention.
Results
Compared with the placebo, omega-3 fatty acid intake led to a significant improvement in Beck Depression Inventory [β (difference in the mean outcomes measures between treatment groups after intervention) –1.05; 95% CI: –1.84, –0.26; p = .01], general health questionnaire (β –1.68; 95% CI: –3.12, –0.24; p = .02) and depression anxiety and stress scale (β –2.03; 95% CI: –3.60, –0.46; p = .01). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation significantly decreased serum insulin levels (β –2.09 µIU/mL; 95% CI: –3.77, –0.41; p = .01), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β –0.74; 95% CI: –1.13, –0.34; p < .001), total testosterone (β –0.23 ng/mL; 95% CI: –0.39, –0.06; p = .03) and hirsutism (β –0.75; 95% CI: –1.17, –0.33; p = .001), and significantly increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β 0.01; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.02; p = .008) compared with the placebo. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acid intake resulted in a significant decrease in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (β –1.46 mg/L; 95% CI: –2.16, –0.75; p < .001) and malondialdehyde (β –0.28 µmol/L; 95% CI: –0.52, –0.05; p = .03); also significant rises in plasma total glutathione (β 59.09 µmol/L; 95% CI: 7.07, 111.11; p = .02) was observed compared with the placebo. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did not change other metabolic parameters.
Conclusion
Overall, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 12 weeks to patients with PCOS had beneficial effects on mental health parameters, insulin metabolism, total testosterone, hirsutism and few inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Clinical trial registration number
www.irct.ir: http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20150606022562N4
Current knowledge on this subject and What this study adds
Our study demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 12 weeks to patients with polycystic ovary syndrome had beneficial effects on mental health parameters, hirsutism and few metabolic profiles.