Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Reproductive Hormones in Obese Women
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity among all countries surveyed in 2012
by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Maternal obesity is linked with
anovulation, menstrual cycle abnormalities, subfertility, fetal loss, obstetrical
complications and congenital anomalies. Changes in reproductive hormones and diminished
oocyte quality have also been demonstrated. A gap of knowledge exists as the mechanisms
underlying these harmful effects are poorly understood and no specific treatments exist.
This proposal will test the hypothesis that dietary omega-3 fatty acids (FA) will improve the
output of hypothalamicpituitary- ovarian axis in obese women. The investigators will perform
paired assessments before and after supplementation in 10 obese and 10 normal weight women.
To test the pituitary and hypothalamic output, the investigators will examine the luteinizing
hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsiveness during frequent blood
sampling. To test the corpus luteum function, the investigators will examine urinary
reproductive hormones (E1c, estrone conjugates, and pregnanediol glucuronide (Pdg)) over an
entire menstrual cycle. The investigators ultimate goal is to collect preliminary data for an
adequately powered randomized control trial.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Colorado, Denver
Collaborator:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)