Background Fish oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which were considered as essential fatty acids. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects of fish oil supplementation on maternal serum fasting blood sugar (FBS), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct). Methods In this randomized triple-blind clinical trial, 150 pregnant women were allocated into two groups randomly. In the intervention group, women received one fish oil capsule daily (1,000 mg consisted of 120 mg DHA and 180 mg EPA), and control group received placebo from the end of twentieth week of pregnancy until delivery (140 capsules). FBS, 2-hour 75 g OGTT, Hb, and Hct were measured at 6–10 and 26–30 weeks of pregnancy. Analysis was based on intervention to treat. Results At the weeks 26–30, mean FBS in the intervention and control groups were 76.92 (9.8) and 75.64 (8.2) mg/dl, respectively [adjusted mean difference (aMD) (95% CI):1.46 (−2.13 to 5.05)]. Also, there was no significant difference between two groups in 2-hour OGTT [aMD (95% CI): −4.69 (−13.75 to 4.52)]. Mean (SD) Hb was 11.8 (1.1) versus 11.8 (0.7) g/dl in the intervention and control groups, respectively [aMD (95% CI): 0.001 (−0.328 to 0.330)], mean (SD) Hct were 36.12% (2.8%) and 35.84% (2.3%), respectively [aMD (95% CI): 0.25 (−0.65 to 1.14)]. Conclusions Based on the findings of present study, fish oil supplementation has no significant effect on Hb, Hct, FBS and 2-hour OGTT of pregnant women.

Objective: According to the World Health Organization, depression will be the second prevalent problem after ischemic heart diseases by the year 2020. Postpartum depression (PPD) as a major depressive episode has devastating impacts on the health of mother, newborn, infant, and even the whole family. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of zinc and magnesium serum levels with PPD, as one of the commonly assumed causes of depression. Methods:This cross-sectional study was done on 122 postpartum women aged 18 years and more in two educational hospitals and one non-educational hospital in Tabriz-Iran, 2015. The eligible women were selected using convenience sampling method. Then, the demographic characteristics questionnaire and Edinburgh Depression Scale were completed by participants, and 5cc of blood sample was drawn from each participant. For data analysis, logistic regression test was used. Results:The mean score of depression scale was 8.0 (SD: 4.7), meaning that 18.9% of mothers were depressed. Results indicated a significant inverse correlation between Edinburgh depression score and magnesium serum level (p= 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the zinc serum level and Edinburgh depression score (p=0.831), in so far as based on logistic regression analysis, increased magnesium serum level decreased the odds of depression [Odds ratio: 0.05; CI 95%: 0.01 to 0.29].Conclusions: In this study, there was a significant inverse relationship between magnesium serum level and Edinburgh depression score.