Abstract
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.
Highlights
Metabolic disorders as defined by the World Health Organization include disease conditions whose prevalence is reported to be on the increase more so in the developing countries
While diabetic pregnancy associated with hyperlipidemia [27, 49, 73] has been reported to induce hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in adult obese offspring from macrosomic newborns born to diabetic animals [27, 37, 74, 75], our studies have demonstrated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) diet significantly reduced the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in diabetic pregnant animals and attenuated hyperlipidemia in their adult obese offspring from macrosomic newborns [27, 42, 65]
Gestational diabetes mellitus and macrosomia that results in adulthood obesity are pathologies associated with several metabolic disorders, implicating lipid metabolism, altered antioxidant status, and disrupted immune defense system
Summary
Metabolic disorders as defined by the World Health Organization include disease conditions whose prevalence is reported to be on the increase more so in the developing countries. Other authors did not find any associations between maternal fatty acid intake or food consumption during human pregnancy and the development of type 1 diabetes in the offspring [18]. Despite these controversial reports on the effects of omega-3 PUFA, guidelines from the Polish Gynecological Association recommended the use of omega-3 PUFA either as supplements or through dietary counseling for women who are planning pregnancy and for patients with normal and/or gestational diabetes and during lactation [19, 20]. Details of outcomes of maternal diabetes in pregnancy on offspring have been reviewed elsewhere [25] and, will only be briefly discussed before focusing on beneficial effects of PUFA during gestational diabetes and evaluating the consequences on the macrosomia in newborns that become obese in adulthood
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