Omega-3 plus vitamin E supplementation lowers Lp(a) gene expression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, a randomised trial of 68 patients (Mol Cell Endocrinol 2017)

Original title: The effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression of lipoprotein(a) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein, lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Mol Cell Endocrinol · 9 September 2016 · 6

Rahmani E, Samimi M, Ebrahimi FA, Foroozanfard F, Ahmadi S, Rahimi M, Jamilian M, Aghadavod E, Bahmani F, Taghizadeh M, Memarzadeh MR, Asemi Z

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tested whether omega-3 fatty acids (1000 mg flaxseed oil with 400 mg alpha-linolenic acid) plus 400 IU vitamin E, versus placebo, for 12 weeks affects Lp(a) and oxidised LDL gene expression in 68 women aged 18-40 with polycystic ovary syndrome (34 per group). Compared with placebo, supplementation significantly downregulated Lp(a) mRNA (P<0.001) and oxidised LDL mRNA (P<0.001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and significantly reduced serum triglycerides, VLDL, total, and LDL cholesterol (all P<0.001), alongside increased total antioxidant capacity (P=0.003) and decreased malondialdehyde (P=0.01). The findings show 12 weeks of omega-3 plus vitamin E co-supplementation improves Lp(a) and oxidised LDL gene expression, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Original abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation on gene expression of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done on 68 women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria aged 18-40 years old. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either 1000 mg omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil containing 400 mg α-Linolenic acid plus 400 IU vitamin E supplements (n = 34) or placebo (n = 34) for 12 weeks. Lp(a) and Ox-LDL mRNA levels were quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PCOS women with RT-PCR method. Lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress were quantified at the beginning of the study and after 12-week intervention. Quantitative results of RT-PCR demonstrated that compared with the placebo, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation downregulated expressed levels of Lp(a) mRNA (P < 0.001) and Ox-LDL mRNA (P < 0.001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with PCOS. In addition, compared to the placebo group, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in serum triglycerides (-22.1 ± 22.3 vs. +7.7 ± 23.6 mg/dL, P < 0.001), VLDL- (-4.4 ± 4.5 vs. +1.5 ± 4.7 mg/dL, P < 0.001), total- (-20.3 ± 16.6 vs. +12.2 ± 26.1 mg/dL, P < 0.001), LDL- (-16.7 ± 15.3 vs. +11.9 ± 26.1 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and total-/HDL-cholesterol (-0.5 ± 0.6 vs. +0.4 ± 0.8, P < 0.001). There were a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (+89.4 ± 108.9 vs. +5.9 ± 116.2 mmol/L, P = 0.003) and a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels (-0.3 ± 0.4 vs. -0.008 ± 0.6 μmol/L, P = 0.01) by combined omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E intake compared with the placebo group. Overall, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation for 12 weeks in PCOS women significantly improved gene expression of Lp(a) and Ox-LDL, lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.