The effects of n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil on inflammatory markers and gene expression related to inflammation and insulin metabolism 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 inflammation and genetic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in sixty women with GDM. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (30/each group) to intake either 2 × 1000 mg/d n-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil containing 400 mg α-linolenic acid in each capsule (n=30) or placebo (n=30) for 6 weeks. N-3 Fatty acid intake upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and (P < 0·001) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (P = 0·004) and down-regulated gene expression oftumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P = 0·001) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P = 0·002) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. N-3 Fatty acid administration was also associated with a significant reduction in C-reactive protein (P = 0·006) and an increase in total nitrite (P < 0·001) when compared with the placebo. In conclusion, n-3 Fatty acid supplementation for 6 weeks to women with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin, inflammation and inflammatory markers.