The effects of fish oil on gene expression in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Mehri Jamilian
Mohsen Taghizadeh
Elham Rahmani
Zatollah Asemi
Bahareh Dadpour
Zahra Nezami
Esmat Aghadavod
Samaneh Mahmoodi
Abolfazl Beiki Hassan
Zahra Vahedpoor
Journal: European Journal of Clinical Investigation (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: fish oil; gene expression; inflammation; insulin; lipid
Affiliations: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran., Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran., Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran., Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran., Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran., Barij Medicinal Plants Research Center, Kashan, Iran.

Abstract:  Background: This study was conducted to determine the effects of fish oil administration on gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 40 subjects with PCOS, aged 18-40 years. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 1000 mg omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) twice a day for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to insulin, lipid and inflammation was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of PCOS women with RT-PCR method. Results: Our study demonstrated that after the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, fish oil supplementation upregulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (P &lt; .001) in PBMC of subjects with PCOS. In addition, compared to the placebo, taking fish oil supplements downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P = .02) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) (P = .01) in PBMC of subjects with PCOS. We did not observe any significant effect of fish oil supplementation on gene expression of lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)], low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in PBMC of subjects with PCOS. Conclusions: Overall, fish oil supplementation for 12 weeks to subjects with PCOS significantly improved gene expression of PPAR-γ, IL-1 and IL-8, but did not influence gene expression of LP(a), LDLR, GLUT-1, TNF-α and TGF-β. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 There are many concerns about the integrity of 172 publications by this research group, including this one. Some of the concerns are published 1. Anaesthesia 2020;75:1683u201392, see Supplementary data. This paper is A156 2. Account Res 2020;28:149-61. 3. J Clin Epidemiol 2021;131:22-29. Journals and publishers were notified of these concerns in July 2019. 18 publications have an expression of concern, and 6 have been retracted. To our knowledge there has been no public response about any of the concerns. We think these publications are unreliable ,