Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000
Performing Department
Family And Consumer Sciences
Non Technical Summary
In a study on hypovitaminosis D with metabolic disturbances associated with PCOS, nearly half of the polycystic women were vitamin D deficient, demonstrating a strong relationship between body mass index (BMI) and vitamin D levels. Yildizhan et.al. reported that 25-OH Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the obese than the non-obese PCOS women. In the present study plasma vitamin D3 levels in PCOS and non-PCOS women did not differ. In a novel finding, following omega-3 PUFA supplementation, both groups had an approximate 40% reduction in D3 that rebounded with supplemental D3. Surprisingly, plasma vitamin D2 was 2-fold higher in PCOS than non-PCOS women and remained consistent with combined omega-3 and vitamin D ingestion. Similar to the effect on D3, D2 was reduced with 3 month exclusive omega-3 supplementations but maintained reduced levels with vitamin D3 ingestion. In summary, exclusive omega-3 ingestion may lead to reduced plasma vitamin D in both PCOS and non-PCOS women. Supplemental vitamin D may be necessary in women consuming n-3 PUFA at elevated levels.
Animal Health Component
75%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
75%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
To determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on health-related outcomes in both human and rodent models.
To define the mechanisms mediating the health promoting effects of omega-3 fatty acids.
Project Methods
Thirteen polycystic and eleven non-PCOS women were recruited for a study designed to assess the effect of 5-month n-3 PUFA supplementation on plasma vitamin D levels with an overlap of 1000 IU 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D3) for the final two months. PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam consensus criteria by the participants' attending physician after the exclusion of other disorders with similar clinical presentation (8). Exclusion criteria included previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, history of smoking, pregnancy, breastfeeding, use of insulin-sensitizing medications and frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (4≤ days/week). Subjects on oral contraceptives continued on the same dose. All women had typical fish consumption of less than twice weekly and did not take n-3 PUFA supplements previously. Subjects gave informed written consent and remained free-living and continued their usual activities. The study was approved by and conducted according to Institutional Review Board of the University of Wyoming. Twelve PCOS (average age 32.08 ± 1.72) and eight control (23.57±0.97) women completed the study. Women with regular menstrual cycles were assessed in the early follicular phase between days 1 and 7 after the onset of menses. Women with irregular menstrual cycles returned to the lab at regular monthly intervals. Oral contraceptive users were evaluated during the 7-day pill-free interval (between day 5 and day 7) at the time of the reestablished pituitary-ovarian activity (9). Encapsulated n-3 PUFA supplements were provided by the Shaklee Corporation (Pleasanton, CA) containing 2.3 g of n-3 PUFA containing a total of 90.5% of the n-3 PUFA in the form of EPA and DHA. Following an eight hour overnight fast, venous blood was collected by venipuncture into heparinized tubes for assessment of initial, third, fourth, and fifth month plasma vitamin D levels. Plasma and erythrocytes were separated by centrifugation for 15 min at 5000 x g at 25 °C.. Extracted plasma was aliquoted and stored at -80 °C for subsequent vitamin D analysis by RP-HPLC with a 87:13 acetonitrile:methanol buffer. Basal and end of treatment vitamin D concentrations were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Differences between means were assessed by ANOVA for a CRD using SAS. Significance of difference was determined at p < 0.05. Values are expressed as means ±SEM (n = 11 for PCOS, n=8 for control).