Moderate intake of n-3 fatty acids for 2 months has no detrimental effect on glucose metabolism and could ameliorate the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic men. Results of a controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a moderate dose of fish oil on glycemic control and in vivo insulin action in type 2 diabetic men with elevated plasma triacylglycerols and to determine the effect of the same treatment on gene expression of GLUT4, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in the abdominal adipose tissue.


METHODS
A total of 12 type 2 diabetic men were randomly allocated to 2 months of 6 g daily of either fish oil or sunflower oil, separated by a 2-month washout interval, in a double-blind crossover design.


RESULTS
For glucose metabolism, 2 months of fish oil supplementation compared with sunflower oil led to similar fasting plasma insulin, glucose, and HbA1c. Basal hepatic glucose production did not increase after fish oil. There was no difference in insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production nor in insulin stimulation of whole-body glucose disposal measured by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Fish oil did not ameliorate the low mRNA level of GLUT4 in adipose tissue of these patients. For lipid profile, fish oil lowered plasma triacylglycerol more than sunflower oil (P < 0.05) and tended to increase the amount of mRNA of both LPL and HSL in adipose tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
A moderate dose of fish oil did not lead to deleterious effects on glycemic control or whole-body insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic men, with preserved triacylglycerol-lowering capacities.
Luo
J
J
Department of Diabetes, INSERM U341, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France.
Rizkalla
S W
SW
Vidal
H
H
Oppert
J M
JM
Colas
C
C
Boussairi
A
A
Guerre-Millo
M
M
Chapuis
A S
AS
Chevalier
A
A
Durand
G
G
Slama
G
G
D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008049:Lipase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human; D008049:Lipase; D005947:Glucose