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.
INSERM, Nutriomique, U872, Paris, France.
Morvarid
M
Kabir
Geraldine
G
Skurnik
Nadia
N
Naour
Valeria
V
Pechtner
Emmanuelle
E
Meugnier
Sophie
S
Rome
Annie
A
Quignard-Boulangé
Hubert
H
Vidal
Gérard
G
Slama
Karine
K
Clément
Michèle
M
Guerre-Millo
Salwa W
SW
Rizkalla
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