Increased erythrocytes n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids is significantly associated with a lower prevalence of steatosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is commonly associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Although dietary fat contributes substantially to the accumulation of liver fat, the role of individual fatty acids in this accumulation is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we set out to determine whether liver fat content (LFC), was associated with red blood cell fatty acid (RBC-FA) composition in people with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-two type 2 diabetic patients were included in this study. LFC was measured using (1)H-MR Spectroscopy. RBC-FA composition was measured by gas chromatography.


RESULTS
One hundred and nine (67.2%) patients had steatosis. Patients with steatosis had a higher BMI (p = 0.0005), and higher plasma triglyceride levels (p = 0.009) than did patients without steatosis. We report a significant association between palmitic acid (16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) concentrations and ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acid (palmitoleic acid to palmitic acid) and higher liver fat content. Total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), homo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3n-6), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3), and arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) were associated with lower LFC.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed that an increased erythrocytes long-chain n-3 and n-6 fatty acids was associated with a lower prevalence of steatosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. These results suggest that n-3 and n-6 fatty acids supplementation could be a promising treatment for NAFLD in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Université de Bourgogne, Centre de Recherche INSERM Unité 866, CHU du Bocage, BP 77908, 21079 Dijon cedex, France. jean-michel.petit@chu-dijon.fr
J M
JM
Petit
B
B
Guiu
L
L
Duvillard
V
V
Jooste
M C
MC
Brindisi
A
A
Athias
B
B
Bouillet
M
M
Habchi
V
V
Cottet
P
P
Gambert
P
P
Hillon
J P
JP
Cercueil
B
B
Verges
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D014280:Triglycerides; C008757:palmitoleic acid; D019308:Palmitic Acid