Effects of omega-3 supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with gestational diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We assessed whether omega-3 supplementation could improve glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors in individuals with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this meta-study, we used a random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analysis model to analyze the mean differences (MD) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) before and after omega-3 and placebo supplementation, thus evaluating the effects of omega-3 on glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors. Six randomized controlled trials (331 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD = −0.25 mmol/L; 95 % CI: −0.38, −0.12), fasting insulin (WMD = −17.13 pmol/L; 95 % CI: −27.95, −6.30), and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (WMD = −0.51; 95 % CI: −0.89, −0.12) were lower in the omega-3 group compared to their levels in the placebo group. The results of the analysis of lipid metabolism showed that triglycerides (WMD = −0.18 mmol/L; 95 % CI: −0.29, −0.08) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = −0.1 mmol/L; 95 % CI: −0.16, −0.03) decreased in the omega-3 group, while high-density lipoproteins (WMD = 0.06 mmol/L; 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.10) increased. Compared to the placebo group, inflammatory factor serum C-reactive protein (SMD = −0.68 mmol/L; 95 % CI: −0.96, −0.39) decreased in the omega-3 group. Omega-3 supplementation can decrease the levels of FPG and inflammatory factors, enhance blood lipid metabolism, and reduce insulin resistance in patients with GDM.