Effect of omega‐3 and vitamin D co‐supplementation on psychological distress in reproductive‐aged women with pre‐diabetes and hypovitaminosis D: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: Psychological distresses and pre‐diabetes are among the risk factors of developing type‐II diabetes. The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of omega‐3 and vitamin D co‐supplementation on psychological distresses in women of reproductive age with pre‐diabetes and hypovitaminosis D. METHODS: The present factorial clinical trial was conducted on 168 women of reproductive age with pre‐diabetes and hypovitaminosis D. These participants were selected by stratified random sampling and were assigned to four groups for 8 weeks: group 1 (placebo group), group 2 (omega‐3 group), group 3 (vitamin D group), and group 4 (co‐supplement group). The medication and placebo doses being two 1000‐mg tablets each day for omega‐3 and 50,000‐IU pearls every 2 weeks for vitamin D. Fasting blood glucose and vitamin D were measured at the beginning of the study. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale‐21 and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were completed by the participants at the start and end of the intervention. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in terms of reduction in anxiety and improvement in sleep quality in the co‐supplementation compared to the other three groups (p < .05). There was also a significant difference between the group receiving both supplements and the group receiving only placebos in terms of reduction in depression and stress (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D and omega‐3 co‐supplementation improved depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in women of reproductive age with pre‐diabetes and hypovitaminosis D. Therefore, these two supplements can be recommended for improving the mental health of this group of women. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Code: IRCT20100130003226N17. Registered on February 9, 2019.