Treatment for 2 mo with n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces adiposity and some atherogenic factors but does not improve insulin sensitivity in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Information is lacking on the potential effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether n-3 PUFAs have additional effects on adiposity, insulin sensitivity, adipose tissue function (production of adipokines and inflammatory and atherogenic factors), and gene expression in type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Twenty-seven women with type 2 diabetes without hypertriglyceridemia were randomly allocated in a double-blind parallel design to 2 mo of 3 g/d of either fish oil (1.8 g n-3 PUFAs) or placebo (paraffin oil).


RESULTS
Although body weight and energy intake measured by use of a food diary were unchanged, total fat mass (P < 0.019) and subcutaneous adipocyte diameter (P < 0.0018) were lower in the fish oil group than in the placebo group. Insulin sensitivity was not significantly different between the 2 groups (measured by homeostasis model assessment in all patients and by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp in a subgroup of 5 patients per group). By contrast, atherogenic risk factors, including plasma triacylglycerol (P < 0.03), the ratio of triacylglycerol to HDL cholesterol (atherogenic index, P < 0.03), and plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (P < 0.01), were lower in the fish oil group than in the placebo group. In addition, a subset of inflammation-related genes was reduced in subcutaneous adipose tissue after the fish oil, but not the placebo, treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
A moderate dose of n-3 PUFAs for 2 mo reduced adiposity and atherogenic markers without deterioration of insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Some adipose tissue inflammation-related genes were also reduced. These beneficial effects could be linked to morphologic and inflammatory changes in adipose tissue. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT0037.
Kabir
Morvarid
M
INSERM, Nutriomique, U872, Paris, France.
Skurnik
Geraldine
G
Naour
Nadia
N
Pechtner
Valeria
V
Meugnier
Emmanuelle
E
Rome
Sophie
S
Quignard-Boulangé
Annie
A
Vidal
Hubert
H
Slama
Gérard
G
Clément
Karine
K
Guerre-Millo
Michèle
M
Rizkalla
Salwa W
SW
D054392:Adipokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D054392:Adipokines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D007328:Insulin; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol