Efficacies of vitamin D and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on experimental endometriosis

Akyol A, Alpaslan Akyol, Şimşek M, Memet Şimşek, İlhan R, Raşit İlhan, Behzat Can, Can B, Melike Baspinar, Baspinar M, Melike Mercan Başpınar, Akyol H, Hadice Akyol, H Fatih Gül, Gül HF, Humaira Gul, Mehmet Ferit Gürsu, Ferit Gürsu, Kavak B, Burçin Kavak, Akın M, Mustafa Akın
Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology · 2016 · vol. 55(6) , pp. 835–839 · doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2015.06.018 · PMID:28040129 · W2567374018
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Omega-3 PUFA significantly reduced endometriotic implant volume and associated cytokine levels in a rat model, while vitamin D only decreased IL-6.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 (vitamin D) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) on experimentally induced endometriosis in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled experimental study was performed on 30 Wistar female rats. Endometriosis was surgically induced by implanting endometrial tissue on the abdominal peritoneum. Four weeks later, a second laparotomy was performed to assess pre-treatment implant volumes and cytokine levels. The rats were randomized into three groups: vitamin D group (42 μg/kg/day), omega-3 PUFA group (450 mg/kg/day), and control group (saline 0.1 mL/rat/day). These treatments were administered for 4 weeks. At the end of treatment, a third laparotomy was performed for the assessment of cytokine levels, implant volumes (post-treatment) and implants were totally excised for histopathologic examination. Pre- and post-treatment volumes, cytokine levels within the groups, as well as stromal and glandular tissues between the groups were compared. RESULTS: The mean post-treatment volume was statistically significantly reduced in the omega-3 PUFA group (p=0.02) and the level of the interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the peritoneal fluid were significantly decreased at the end of treatment in the omega-3 PUFA group (p=0.02, p=0.03, and p=0.03, respectively). In the vitamin D group, only IL-6 levels were significantly decreased. In the histopathologic examination, the glandular tissue and stromal tissue scores of the implants were significant lower in the omega-3 PUFA group (p=0.03 and p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Omega-3 PUFA caused significant regression of endometriotic implants. Vitamin D has not been as effective as omega-3 PUFA on endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Vitamin D Vitamins Animals Animals Disease Models, Animal Disease Models, Animal Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Female Female Humans Humans Peritoneum Peritoneum Peritoneum

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