Omega 3
Omega 3's and Miscarriage
5.1 g DHA/EPA lowered miscarriage odds to just 9% in women with antiphospholipid syndrome
22 patients with persistent antiphospholipid syndrome associated with recurrent miscarriage (defined as three or more miscarriages) were treated with fish oil, equivalent to 5.1 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at a ratio of 1.5 EPA to DHA. Twenty-two patients had 23 pregnancies (one patient had two pregnancies) over a period of 3 years. There was only one intrauterine fetal death at the 27th week associated with pre-eclampsia. Twenty-one pregnancies, 19 of which ended after the 37th week, produced a baby. Two pregnancies ended with cesarean section for pre-eclampsia at 30th and 35th week of gestation and one is ongoing at 32nd week. All babies are well. The weight at birth of babies delivered at term was always > 2500 g.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8305926
High doses of fish oil increases miscarriage in rabbits
As part of a comprehensive safety assessment program, the developmental toxicity of DHA-rich microalgae was assessed in rats and in rabbits (dosed with DHA-rich microalgae at levels of 180, 600, and 1800 mg/kg/day). Fish oil was used as a negative control at dose levels to provide an equivalent amount of fat to that received by the high-dose DHA-rich microalgae rabbits. As a possible consequence of the high-fat content of the fish oil and DHA-rich microalgae, reductions in food consumption and body weight gain and a slight increase in miscarriages occurred in the fish oil control and 1800 mg/kg/day DHA-rich microalgae groups. Developmental toxicity was not observed at any DHA-rich microalgae dose level. Based on the results of this study, the no observable effects limit for maternal toxicity of DHA-rich microalgae was 600 mg/kg/day, and the no observable effects limit for developmental toxicity was 1800 mg/kg/day in rabbits.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
4g omega-3 improves uterine blood flow, although not as well as low dose aspirin
To determine the effect of different therapeutic approaches on uterine artery blood flow in women with recurrent miscarriage and impaired uterine perfusion, sixty women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage and impaired uterine perfusion were randomly assigned to three different therapeutic regimens: 20 patients received a daily dose of 100 mg of aspirin; 20 patients were treated with omega-3 fatty acids, 4 g daily; and 20 patients received 100 mg of aspirin plus 4 g omega-3 fatty acids. All therapeutic regimens induced an improvement in uterine perfusion with a significant reduction of uterine artery pulsality index values. Low dose aspirin alone or in combination with omega-3 was found to achieve the highest improvement of uterine blood flow. Omega-3 supplementation was less effective, as reflected by the lower uterine artery pulsatility index values. Low dose aspirin and omega-3 are effective in improving uterine artery blood flow velocity in women with recurrent miscarriage due to abnormal uterine perfusion. Further studies are needed to determine whether the improvement of uterine perfusion may lead to a better pregnancy outcome.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18692841
Omega 3's work as well as aspirin in antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome recurrent miscarriage
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different prophylactic protocols, low-dose aspirin and fish oil derivates, in the treatment of patients with recurrent miscarriage associated with antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome. Each patient had had at least two consecutive miscarriages, positive antiphospholipid antibodies on two occasions, and a complete evaluation. RESULTS: Among patients treated with low-dose aspirin, 12 out of the 15 (80%) pregnancies ended in live births. In the fish oil derivate group 11 out of the 15 (73.3%) ended in live births. There were no significant differences between the low-dose aspirin and the fish oil derivates groups with respect to gestational age at delivery, fetal birth weight, number of cesarean sections, or complications. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in terms of pregnancy outcome between women with recurrent pregnancy loss associated with antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome treated with low-dose aspirin or fish oil derivates.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15864938
Omega 3's and Hypercoagulability
High fat diet increases, while Omega 3's lower, blood viscosity and coagulability
Compared with control group, rats injected with a single dose of vitamin D(3) (600,000 U/kg) and fed with a high-fat diet had higher total cholesterol, low density cholesterol, plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, fibrinogen and malonaldehyde concentrations, and lower activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, erythrocyte deformation index, plasma nitric oxide, and total antioxidant capacity. After a 6-week high-fat diet, the rats in treatment group were treated with omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids at 250 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1). Compared with the high-fat diet group, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could reduce blood lipid levels, inhibit atherosclerotic plaque formation, decrease plasma viscosity (1.58 vs 1.81 mPa·s), whole blood viscosity [(4.76 vs 5.47 mPa·s),(4.24 vs 4.91 mPa·s), (4.04 vs 4.58 mPa·s)] and fibrinogen (2.45 vs 2.65 g/L), lower malonaldehyde content (10.1 vs 11.2 µmol/ml), prolong activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and thrombin time (29.04 vs 26.46 s), (13.86 vs 10.71 s), (23.05 vs 20.90 s), increase erythrocyte deformation index (0.35 vs 0.31), plasma nitric oxide (3.9 vs 2.8 nmol/ml) and total antioxidant capacity levels (8.0 vs 6.7 U/ml).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20979870
Omega 3's and Insulin Resistance
Omega 3's reduce inflammation and insulin resistance by inhibiting eicosanoids and raising adiponectin
A lipidomic analysis with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry revealed that omega-3-PUFAs inhibited the formation of omega-6-PUFA-derived eicosanoids (inflammatory hormones), while triggering the formation of omega-3-PUFA-derived resolvins and protectins. Moreover, representative members of these lipid mediators, namely resolvin E1 and protectin D1, mimicked the insulin-sensitizing and antisteatotic effects of omega-3-PUFAs and induced adiponectin expression (apidonectin boosts insulin sensitivity and weight loss) to a similar extent that of rosiglitazone, a member of the thiazolidinedione family of antidiabetic drugs.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2698663/
Insulin Resistance and Miscarriage
EPA and DHA improved insulin sensitivity by 60% in rats
In rats, plasma glucose and insulin levels were lowered by 35 and 38%, respectively, in the EPA and DHA group compared to the alpha-linolenic acid group. Insulin sensitivity was substantially improved, as indicated by a 60% decreased HOMA index after an 8-week EPA and DHA administration, as compared to the effect observed for feeding alpha-linolenic acid.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18562792
2.4 g/day of EPA+DHA improved insulin resistance and lowered inflammatory markers
The effects of omega-3 fatty acid eight-week's supplementation (EPA+DHA, 2.4 g/d) were examined. Data revealed a significant decrease of saturated fatty acids as well as total saturated fatty acid: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio during the treatment. The values of serum insulin and calculated insulin resistance were reduced after supplementation. There was a significant decrease in the levels of all inflammatory markers (TNF alpha, IL 6, hsCRP, and ferritin). In multivariate regression analysis, only the changes in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio independently contributed to 40% of the variance in insulin resistance.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17497447
Insulin Resistance and Miscarriage
One dose of 500mg DHA instantly improved insulin resistance in mice
Single administration of DHA (500 mg/kg body weight) to insulin resistant mice significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and plasma free fatty acid levels after oral administration when compared with control group. In addition, repeated administration of DHA (100 mg/kg) to these mice significantly suppressed the increment of blood glucose levels and plasma triglyceride levels, and significantly decreased free fatty acid levels at 30 d compared with control group. DHA also significantly decreased the blood glucose at 60 and 120 min on insulin tolerance test (ITT). From these findings, it seems likely that DHA exhibits its hypoglycemic effects by increasing insulin sensitivity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9178930
Omega 3's lower insulin resistance, omega 6's increase it
Omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA are associated with lower insulin resistance, while the opposite is true for omega-6 fatty acids.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18804984
Omega 3's and Stress
Low DHA associated with low serotonin and high stress hormone response
Decreased brain DHA was associated with increased relative corticosterone response to an intense stressor. In females with decreased brain DHA, serotonin content and turnover in frontal cortex were decreased compared to females with normal brain DHA. The data are consistent with findings in depressed humans, and thus support a role for DHA as a factor in the etiologies of depressive illnesses, particularly postpartum depression.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18707812
4 g fish oil lowers cortisol by 24% and body fat by 1%, increases muscle by 1%
Compared to the control group, there was a significant increase in fat free mass following treatment with fish oil (4 g per day for 6 weeks) (fish oil = +0.5 kg, control = -0.1 kg), a significant reduction in fat mass (fish oil = -0.5 kg, control = +0.2 kg), and a tendency for a decrease in body fat percentage (fish oil = -0.4 % body fat, control = +0. 3 % body fat). No significant differences were observed for body mass, resting metabolic rate or respiratory exchange ratio. There was a tendency for salivary cortisol to decrease in the fish oil group (fish oil = -0.064 μg/dL, control = +0.016 μg/dL). There was a significant negative correlation in the fish group between change in cortisol and change in fat free mass and positive correlation with change in fat mass.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2958879/
Fish oil reduces physical response to stress
Fish oil decreases adrenal activation induced by mental stress and has an insulin sensitizing effect in healthy subjects.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17977474
Omega 3's and Immune System
Fish oil lowers prostaglandin activity, protects against autoimmune disease
The type of dietary fat dramatically affects the onset of autoimmune disease in lupus-prone female mice. Disease development was strikingly slowed in mice fed a diet containing quantities of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil). By 10 months of age, 94% of the fish oil mice were still living, whereas all the mice fed a saturated fat diet (lard) were dead. Those mice fed a corn oil diet were intermediate with 35% alive at the 10-month time evaluation. It is likely omega-3 fatty acids of fish oil reduce immune-complex-induced glomerulonephritis through production of prostaglandin metabolites with attenuated activity and/or through altering cell membrane structure and fluidity, which may, in turn, affect the responsiveness of immune cells.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3565532
The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) significantly benefit diverse inflammatory and autoimmune conditions without any specific Th1/Th2 effect.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_3_8/ai_107835434/
Other topics covered under Supplements and Miscarriage:
Aspirin, Black Cohosh, Flaxseed, Inositol, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Progesterone Cream, Vitex