Hormonal and metabolic effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: results from a cross-sectional analysis and a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
Authors
Phelan, NiamhO'Connor, Annalouise
Kyaw Tun, Tommy
Correia, Neuman
Boran, Gerard
Roche, Helen M
Gibney, James
Affiliation
Department of Endocrinology, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Incorporating the, National Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.Issue Date
2012-02-01T10:47:55ZMeSH
AdultAndrogens/*blood/metabolism
Animals
Biological Markers/blood
Cattle
Cells, Cultured
Cohort Studies
Cross-Over Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
*Dietary Supplements
Double-Blind Method
Fatty Acids, Omega-3/blood/*metabolism/*therapeutic use
Fatty Acids, Omega-6/blood/metabolism
Female
Humans
Ovary/cytology/metabolism
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*blood/*diet therapy
Postprandial Period
Principal Component Analysis
Theca Cells/metabolism
Young Adult
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Mar;93(3):652-62. Epub 2011 Jan 26.Journal
The American journal of clinical nutritionDOI
10.3945/ajcn.110.005538PubMed ID
21270384Abstract
BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by an adverse metabolic profile. Although dietary changes are advocated, optimal nutritional management remains uncertain. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly long-chain (LC) n-3 (omega-3) PUFAs, improve metabolic health, but their therapeutic potential in PCOS is unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the associations between plasma PUFAs and metabolic and hormonal aspects of PCOS to investigate the efficacy of LC n-3 PUFA supplementation and to support the findings with mechanistic cellular studies. DESIGN: We selected a cross-sectional PCOS cohort (n = 104) and conducted a principal component analysis on plasma fatty acid profiles. Effects of LC n-3 PUFA supplementation on fasting and postprandial metabolic and hormonal markers were determined in PCOS subjects (n = 22) by a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled intervention. Direct effects of n-6 (omega-6) compared with n-3 PUFAs on steroidogenesis were investigated in primary bovine theca cells. RESULTS: Cross-sectional data showed that a greater plasma n-6 PUFA concentration and n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio were associated with higher circulating androgens and that plasma LC n-3 PUFA status was associated with a less atherogenic lipid profile. LC n-3 PUFA supplementation reduced plasma bioavailable testosterone concentrations (P < 0.05), with the greatest reductions in subjects who exhibited greater reductions in plasma n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios. The treatment of bovine theca cells with n-6 rather than with n-3 PUFAs up-regulated androstenedione secretion (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional data suggest that PUFAs modulated hormonal and lipid profiles and that supplementation with LC n-3 PUFAs improves androgenic profiles in PCOS. In bovine theca cells, arachidonic acid modulated androstenedione secretion, which suggests an indirect effect of n-3 PUFAs through the displacement of or increased competition with n-6 PUFAs. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01189669.Language
engISSN
1938-3207 (Electronic)0002-9165 (Linking)
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3945/ajcn.110.005538