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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 May;14(5):e12499.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12499. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

A randomized control trial of the impact of LCPUFA-ω3 supplementation on body weight and insulin resistance in pubertal children with obesity

M López-Alarcón  1 , P Inda-Icaza  1   2 , M C Márquez-Maldonado  1 , A Armenta-Álvarez  1 , L Barbosa-Cortés  1 , J Maldonado-Hernández  1 , M Piña-Aguero  1 , A Barradas-Vázquez  1 , B A Núñez-García  1 , M Rodríguez-Cruz  1 , J R Fernández  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized control trial of the impact of LCPUFA-ω3 supplementation on body weight and insulin resistance in pubertal children with obesity

M López-Alarcón et al. Pediatr Obes. 2019 May.

Abstract

Background: Paediatric obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are potentially reversible inflammatory conditions. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 (LCPUFA-ω3) show anti-inflammatory and metabolic properties, but their clinical efficacy is unclear.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate whether supplementation with LCPUFA-ω3 for 3 months reduces insulin resistance and weight to adolescents with obesity.

Methods: Double-blind trial of 366 adolescents with obesity randomly assigned to 1.2-g LCPUFA-ω3 (DO3) or 1-g sunflower oil (DP) daily for 3 months; both groups received an energy-restricted diet. Children attended monthly for anthropometric, dietary, and clinical measurements. Basal and final blood samples were obtained to measure metabolic markers and erythrocytes fatty acids. Regression models were used for analysis.

Results: A total of 119 DO3 and 126 DP children completed follow-up. At baseline, 92% of children presented IR, 66% hypertriglyceridemia, 37% low-grade inflammation, and 32% metabolic syndrome. Despite erythrocytes LCPUFA-ω3 increased more in DO3 (Median differences = 0.984 w/w%; 95 IC = 0.47, 1.53, P < 0.001), body weight, insulin, and HOMA changed similarly in both groups at the end of intervention. Adjusting for basal values, changes in weight, insulin, and HOMA was not related with supplementation.

Conclusions: Supplementation with LCPUFA-ω3 does not affect body weight or insulin in adolescents with obesity.

Keywords: DHA; EPA; LCPUFA-ω3; bodyweight; insulin resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST STATEMENT

No conflict of interest are stated by any of the authors.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow diagram of the progress through the phases of the clinical trial
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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