The Effects of Omega 3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on Serum Lipid Profiles, C-Peptide and Fasting Blood Glucose in Obese Volunteers

Obese patients are at high risk of numerous chronic diseases including diabetes، hypertension، heart disease، dyslipidemia and stroke. Recently researchers focused on complementary medicine along with routine treatments to reduce obesity complications. Therefore we aimed to investigate the effects of omega 3 fatty acids supplementation on serum lipid profiles، C-peptide and fasting blood glucose in obese individuals. In this randomized clinical trial 56 obese volunteers with the mean age of 33. 94±8. 15 years were assigned into the supplemented (n=30) and placebo (n=26) groups، given two omega 3 fatty acids soft gel (360 mg EPA and 240 DHA) or placebo respectively for 4 weeks. At the onset and the end of the intervention، blood samples were collected after overnight fasting and serum lipid profiles، C-peptide and fasting blood glucose were measured. Data were analyzed with SPSS program and p-value less than 0. 05 considered as significant. In comparison with placebo group، omega 3 supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in the mean triglyceride (108. 37±11. 22 mg/dl vs 148. 84±59. 40 mg/dl). After 4 weeks، the mean C-peptide concentrations increased in both groups but elevation in omega 3 group was more dramatic (p<0. 01). However، we didn’t find any significant changes in the mean total cholesterol، LDL-C and HDL-C levels. Our finding indicated that 4 weeks Omega 3 supplementation leads to amelioration in some of serum lipid profiles indices and insulin secretion in obese individuals. Although، further studies are needed to achieve precise results.