Beneficial Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Gestational Diabetes: Consequences in Macrosomia and Adulthood Obesity

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are increasingly being used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes and obesity. In this paper, we report data on the observed effects of omega-3 PUFA on major metabolic disorders and immune system disruption during gestational diabetes and their consequences on macrosomia. While controversies still exist about omega-3 PUFA effects on antioxidant status regarding the level of omega-3 PUFA in diet supplementation, their lipid-lowering effects are unanimously recognized by researchers. Animal studies have shown that omega-3 PUFA contributes to the maintenance of the immune defense system by promoting the differentiation of T helper (Th) cell to a Th2 phenotype in diabetic pregnancy and by shifting the Th1/Th2 ratio from a deleterious proinflammatory Th1 phenotype to a protective anti-inflammatory Th2 phenotype in macrosomia and in adulthood obesity that results from macrosomia at birth. Based on the available evidence, international nutritional and food agencies recommend administration of omega-3 PUFA as triglyceride-lowering agents, for the prevention of cardiovascular disease risk and during human pregnancy and lactation. Furthermore, studies targeting humans are still required to explore application of the fatty acids as supplement in the management of gestational diabetes and inflammatory and immune diseases.

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Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Impact on Health and Disease Status

Life and Science ◽

10.37185/lns.1.1.85 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Samina Akbar ◽

Muhammad Zeeshan Bhatti ◽

Rida Fatima Saeed ◽

Asma Saleem Qazi

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Disease Status ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Omega 6 ◽

Health And Disease

Over the last decades, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been largely explored not only for their nutritional value but also for the numerous biological functions and therapeutic effects. The serum and erythrocyte levels of PUFAs depend on the genetic control of metabolism as well as the dietary intake and are considered to reflect the health and disease status of an individual. Two families of PUFAs, omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6), have gained much attention because of their involvement in the production of bioactive lipid mediators and therefore, a balanced omega-6/omega-3 ratio is crucial in maintaining the overall health of an individual. Omega-3 PUFAs, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) have been shown to exert beneficial effects, possibly due to their lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective effects, whereas omega-6 fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) exhibit the opposite properties. Even though, numerous epidemiological studies and clinical interventions have clearly established the effectiveness of omega-3 PUFAs in various pathological conditions including dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, some controversies do exist about the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs and need to be clarified. Larger clinical trials with extended follow-up periods are required along with a careful dose selection, in order to confirm the clinical significance and efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs as therapeutic agents.

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Protective effect of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Eicosapentaenoic acid/Docosahexaenoic acid 1:1 ratio on cardiovascular disease risk markers in rats

Lipids in Health and Disease ◽

10.1186/1476-511x-12-140 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 140 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Laura Lluís ◽

Núria Taltavull ◽

Mònica Muñoz-Cortés ◽

Vanesa Sánchez-Martos ◽

Marta Romeu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Eicosapentaenoic Acid ◽

Protective Effect ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽

Risk Markers ◽

Omega 3

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Apolipoprotein C-III, n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and “Insulin-Resistant” T−455C APOC3 Gene Polymorphism in Heart Disease Patients: Example of Gene-Diet Interaction

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1373/clinchem.2004.040477 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 360-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Oliviero Olivieri ◽

Nicola Martinelli ◽

Marco Sandri ◽

Antonella Bassi ◽

Patrizia Guarini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽

Interactive Effect ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Apolipoprotein C ◽

Apoc3 Gene

Abstract Background: Apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III) is a marker of cardiovascular disease risk associated with triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins. The T−455C polymorphism in the insulin-responsive element of the APOC3 gene influences TG and apo C-III concentrations. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contained in fish have well-known apo C-III-lowering properties. Methods: We investigated the possibility of an interactive effect between the APOC3 gene variant and erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs, suitable markers of dietary intake of fatty acids, on apo C-III concentrations in a population of 848 heart disease patients who had coronary angiography. Results: In the population as a whole, apo C-III concentrations were significantly inversely correlated with total erythrocyte PUFAs, but the correlation was not significant when only −455CC homozygous individuals were taken into account. In the total population and in subgroups with the −455TT and −455CT genotypes, the relative proportions of individuals presenting with increased apo C-III (i.e., above the 75th percentile value calculated on the entire population after exclusion of individuals taking lipids-lowering medications) decreased progressively as the n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations increased. The opposite situation was observed in the homozygous −455CC subgroup, in whom increasing erythrocyte n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations were associated with higher proportions of individuals with high apo C-III. A formal interactive effect between genotype and n-3 PUFAs was confirmed even after adjustment for possible confounding variables [age, sex, body mass index, smoking, coronary artery disease (CAD)/CAD-free status, or use of lipid-lowering medications] by logistic models. Conclusion: Patients homozygous for the −455C APOC3 variant are poorly responsive to the apo C-III-lowering effects of n-3 PUFAs.

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