Gestational diabetes in the pregnant Omani population in relation to their fatty acid intake and levels

INTRODUCTION: Low omega-3 Fatty acids (FAs) levels are associated with insulin resistance and upregulation of adiponectin and women with Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have lower n-3 FAs. The current study assesses the association between FAs intake and individual fatty acid levels and ratios in maternal and cord erythrocyte FAs' profile GDM among sample of pregnant Arabic-speaking women in Oman. METHODOLOGY: This prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant Omani women attending antenatal clinics in Al Buraimi, Oman, between 2019 and 2021. A subgroup of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus was compared with healthy pregnant controls. This analysis focuses on a subset of 56 women diagnosed with GDM compared to a control group of 101 healthy women. Seafood and the n-3 FAs intakes of women has been quantified by using a validated Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Maternal and cord blood FAs analysis of erythrocytes was carried out using the method of Folch et al. RESULTS: DHA and Omega-3 index (n-3 index) intake in the GDM population was significantly lower than in control group (p = 0.031) and (p = 0.05). GDM women had lower levels of Arachidonic acid (ArA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p = 0.002), total n-3 FAs (p = 0.001), but a higher level of lignoceric acid (24:00), Eicosapentaenoic acid EPA In term of cord erythrocytes, GDM women was significantly lower Adrenic acid LA, ArA, DHA, Adrenic acid (AdA), total n-6 FAs and EPA (p = 0.021) compared to the women in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: GDM women have a lower n-3 FAs intake reflected in their lower levels of erythrocyte membrane DHA. These findings provide the rationale for a randomized controlled trial of DHA replacement in pregnant women with low DHA levels to test the hypothesis that DHA replacement reduces the risk of developing GDM.