Effects of omega-3 supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with gestational diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Aim We assessed whether omega-3 supplementation could improve glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors in individuals with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods In this meta-study, we used a random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analysis model to analyze the mean differences (MD) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) before and after omega-3 and placebo supplementation, thus evaluating the effects of omega-3 on glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory factors. Results Six randomized controlled trials (331 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD = -0.25 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.38, -0.12), fasting insulin (WMD = -17.13 pmol/L; 95 % CI: -27.95, -6.30), and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (WMD = -0.51; 95 % CI: -0.89, -0.12) were lower in the omega-3 group compared to their levels in the placebo group. The results of the analysis of lipid metabolism showed that triglycerides (WMD = -0.18 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.29, -0.08) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = -0.1 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.16, -0.03) decreased in the omega-3 group, while high-density lipoproteins (WMD = 0.06 mmol/L; 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.10) increased. Compared to the placebo group, inflammatory factor serum C-reactive protein (SMD = -0.68 mmol/L; 95 % CI: -0.96, -0.39) decreased in the omega-3 group. Conclusion Omega-3 supplementation can decrease the levels of FPG and inflammatory factors, enhance blood lipid metabolism, and reduce insulin resistance in patients with GDM.
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In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo decreases VLDL cholesterol by 0.1 mmol/L.
“Lipid metabolism also improved, with triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol decreasing by 0.18 mmol/L and 0.1 mmol/L, respectively, while HDL cholesterol increased by 0.06 mmol/L.”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo decreases fasting insulin by 17.13 pmol/L.
“Analysis from six randomised controlled trials (331 participants) showed significant improvements with omega-3 supplementation in women with GDM compared to a placebo group: fasting glucose decreased by 0.25 mmol/L, fasting insulin by 17.13 pmol/L, and insulin resistance by 0.51.”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo decreases triglycerides by 0.18 mmol/L.
“Lipid metabolism also improved, with triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol decreasing by 0.18 mmol/L and 0.1 mmol/L, respectively, while HDL cholesterol increased by 0.06 mmol/L.”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo decreases insulin resistance by 0.51.
“Analysis from six randomised controlled trials (331 participants) showed significant improvements with omega-3 supplementation in women with GDM compared to a placebo group: fasting glucose decreased by 0.25 mmol/L, fasting insulin by 17.13 pmol/L, and insulin resistance by 0.51.”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo decreases C-reactive protein by 0.68 mmol/L.
“The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein decreased by 0.68 mmol/L in the omega-3 group [118].”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo increases HDL cholesterol by 0.06 mmol/L.
“Lipid metabolism also improved, with triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol decreasing by 0.18 mmol/L and 0.1 mmol/L, respectively, while HDL cholesterol increased by 0.06 mmol/L.”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
In women with GDM, omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo decreases fasting glucose by 0.25 mmol/L.
“Analysis from six randomised controlled trials (331 participants) showed significant improvements with omega-3 supplementation in women with GDM compared to a placebo group: fasting glucose decreased by 0.25 mmol/L, fasting insulin by 17.13 pmol/L, and insulin resistance by 0.51.”
From Medical Nutrition Therapy for Women with Gestational Diabetes: Current Practice and Future Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [118]
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ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 190: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
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Omega-3 fatty acids in obesity and metabolic syndrome: A mechanistic update
Albracht-Schulte, K., Kalupahana, N. S., Ramalingam, L., Wang, S., Rahman, S. M., Robert-McComb, J., & Moustaid-Moussa, N. (2018) · The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.02.012 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
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The clinical relevance of omega-3 fatty acids in the management of hypertriglyceridemia
Backes, J., Anzalone, D., Hilleman, D., & Catini, J. (2016) · Lipids in Health and Disease · doi:10.1186/s12944-016-0286-4 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
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Cheong, L., Law, L. S.-C., Tan, L. Y. L., Amal, A. A.-A., Khoo, C. M., & Eng, P. C. (2025) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu17071210 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
- Authors
- Liu, W., Gao, M., Yang, S., Sun, C., Bi, Y., Li, Y., Wang, J., & Yuan, X.
- Affiliations
- First Hospital of Jilin University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Jiping
- Yuan, Xiaojie
- Venue
- Journal of Diabetes and its Complications
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-04
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 108451
- ISSN
- 0891-6632 (ISSN-L)
- 1056-8727
- OpenAlex
- W4323350591
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Diabetes and its Complications (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province (20200404213YY, 20230505002ZP)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Keywords
- omega-3 fatty acids, gestational diabetes mellitus, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, inflammation
- MeSH terms
- Blood Glucose, Female, Glucose, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Pregnancy, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Diabetes, Gestational, Dietary Supplements, Lipid Metabolism
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