The effects of fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on mental health parameters and metabolic status of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Main Authors: Mehrdad Amini (Author), Fereshteh Bahmani (Author), Fatemeh Foroozanfard (Author), Zahra Vahedpoor (Author), Amir Ghaderi (Author), Mohsen Taghizadeh (Author), Hassan Karbassizadeh (Author), Zatollah Asemi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2020-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0167-482X; 1743-8942; 10.1080/0167482X.2018.1508282
• Keywords: omega-3 fatty acid supplementation; mental health; metabolic status; polycystic ovary syndrome; Gynecology and obstetrics; RG1-991
• Source: Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol 0, Iss 0, Pp 1-9 (2020)

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.