Omega-3, Omega-9, or Both? Effects on Insulin Resistance in Children with Obesity
This clinical trial followed 97 children and teens (ages 8-17) with excess weight and insulin resistance as they took daily omega-3, omega-9, or a combined omega-3 plus omega-9 supplement for three months, with an additional two months of monitoring after stopping.
During treatment, the combined supplement and the omega-9-only supplement were linked to meaningful drops in fasting insulin and a marker called HOMA-IR, which reflects insulin resistance. Markers of inflammation (IL-6) and the hunger-related hormone leptin decreased across all three groups and stayed lower even after supplementation ended.
Two months after stopping, only the combined omega-3/omega-9 group still showed lower insulin and HOMA-IR levels. However, when researchers dug deeper with statistical modeling, they found that which supplement a child took wasn’t actually the strongest driver of improvement — instead, a child’s starting metabolic health and how much their BMI dropped during the study mattered more. There were also no statistically significant differences between the three supplement groups at any point in the study.
What this means for you
This study suggests that in children with obesity and insulin resistance, improvements in insulin sensitivity during omega-3/omega-9 supplementation may be tied more to weight and baseline health changes than to the specific fatty acid blend used. The combined omega-3 and omega-9 approach showed the most lasting effect after stopping supplementation, but researchers describe it as a possible supportive addition alongside other lifestyle measures, not a standalone solution.
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Start the ALP ProtocolThis summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.