The effects of dietary n - 3 fatty acid in animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
We studied the incorporation of dietary n - 3 fatty acids from marine oils into red cell membranes, using animal models of type 1 diabetes (streptozotocin-treated Wistar rats) and type 2 diabetes (gold-thioglucose-injected CBA/T6 mice). In type 1 diabetic rats, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were higher following marine oil supplementation, and the increase in EPA was significantly greater than in non-diabetic animals (3.4 +/- 1.4% vs. 0.8 +/- 1.6%). Marine oil supplementation also resulted in higher levels of EPA and DHA in mice, but the increases were quantitatively similar with and without type 2 diabetes. Improvement in glycosylated haemoglobin following n - 3 fatty acid feeding was only found in type 2 diabetes (6.5 +/- 2.9% vs. 9.5 +/- 1.2%). This was associated with a higher plasma insulin concentration (170 +/- 40 vs. 136 +/- 41 mU/ml). The theory that n - 3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity would have predicted a decrease in plasma insulin levels. Our results suggest that n - 3 fatty acids may modify insulin secretion.
Sullivan
D R
DR
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, N.S.W., Australia.
Yue
D K
DK
Capogreco
C
C
McLennan
S
S
Nicks
J
J
Cooney
G
G
Caterson
I
I
Turtle
J R
JR
Hensley
W J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005227:Fatty Acids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid