Objective:

To compare plasma concentrations of visfatin in women with diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome treated with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Material and methods: A research was performed in 195 women with diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome who were treated with omega-3 fatty acids for 12 weeks (n = 97; group A) and controls treated with placebo (n = 98, group B). Overall characteristics, hormonal concentrations, insulin resistance markers and visfatin concentrations were compared.

Results:

There were no significant differences between the two groups in relation to the general characteristics (p = ns). There were also no significant differences in hormonal, glycemia and HOMA concentrations between the groups (p = ns). The women in group A and B did not show statistically significant differences in total calories intake, carbohydrate, protein and total fat intake between initial and final values of study (p = ns). Women in group A had lower values of fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and area under curve of insulin and glycemia (p <0.0001). Mean values of visfatin also showed a statistically significant reduction after treatment (p <0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found in the mean values of the different variables in women of group B (p = ns).

Conclusion:

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 12 weeks produced a significant decrease of plasma concentrations of visfatin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.