Effects of Omega-3 Fish Oils on Lipid Metabolism, Glycemic Control, and Blood Pressure in Type II Diabetic Patients*

Abstract

We investigated the effects of omega-3 fish oil (FO) supplementation on lipid metabolism, glycemic control, and blood pressure (BP) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. In 22 diabetic patients without overt hyperlipidemia, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, HDL2-cholesterol, HDL3-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) levels did not change during omega-3 FO supplementation for 8 weeks. The mean serum apo B concentration increased significantly [baseline, 2.56 +/- 0.11 (+/- SEM) mmol/L; 4 weeks, 2.82 +/- 0.13 mmol/L; 8 weeks, 2.80 +/- 0.13 mmol/L; P less than 0.01]. The mean plasma postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity increased transiently during the fourth week (baseline, 168 +/- 17 U/mL; 4 weeks, 182 +/- 18 U/mL; P less than 0.05), whereas postheparin hepatic triglyceride lipase activity did not change. Glycemic control worsened transiently during the fourth week, (baseline, 7.7 +/- 0.4%; 4 weeks, 8.4 +/- 0.3%; P less than 0.05). Both systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly throughout the study (systolic BP: baseline, 142 +/- 5 mm Hg; 8 weeks, 128 +/- 5 mm Hg; diastolic BP: baseline, 88 +/- 4 mm Hg; 8 weeks, 80 +/- 3 mm Hg; P less than 0.01). These findings suggest that in type II diabetics without overt hyperlipidemia, omega-3 FO supplementation does not improve either the glycemic control or serum lipids, and it is associated with a potentially detrimental rise in serum apo B concentrations. Until more information is available, use of such supplementation should be discouraged.

Effect of different dietary oil sources on the growth performance, blood characteristics, fatty acid profiles, and expression of lipogenic genes in the liver of broiler chickens

“…We found no significant difference for HL by adding FO. Similarly, a study of Kasim et al (1988) showed that no change was observed in the HL activity during the n-3 fish oil supplementation.…”

Effect of w3 fatty acid on plasma lipids, cholesterol and lipoprotein fatty acid content in NIDDM patients

“…A fasting blood sample was collected from each participant at the end of each treatment period. The w 3 fatty acid supplement provided 35 mg of w 3 fatty acid per kg of body weight per day, similar to levels previously described [27]. Compliance was assessed by pill counts and periodic telephone or personal contact.…”

“…The LDL and HDL cholesterol level was not affected; however, the w 3 fatty acid supplementation increased both the fasting and postprandial plasma glucose level. Feeding fish oil capsules to NIDDM patients without hyperlipidaemia does not change the serum triacylglycerol or the total, LDL and HDL cholesterol level [27]. In these studies, NIDDM patients were fed w 3 fatty acids for short periods when the composition of dietary fat intake was not controlled or assessed.…”

n-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Diabetic Patients

“…Also in patients with type 2 diabetes, blood pressure was largely unaltered by supplementation with n-3 fatty acids (104). However, many of these studies were conducted with inadequate experimental designs and used doses of n-3 fatty acids Ͻ3 g/day, likely too low to show antihypertensive effects (75,81).…”