title: Eicosapentaenoic acid improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar in overweight type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a double-blind randomised clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder in humans, and its incidence is increasing rapidly worldwide. Although polyunsaturated fatty acids have beneficial effects on diabetes mellitus, previous data regarding the possible positive effects of n-3 fatty acids on glycaemic indices were inconclusive. We conducted a double-blind randomised clinical trial to determine the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, on overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial was conducted on a total of 67 overweight patients with T2DM for a duration of three months. Of these 67 patients, 32 received 2 g purified EPA daily, while 35 received a placebo of 2 g corn oil daily. The patients' fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum insulin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin sensitivity indices were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After three months of EPA supplementation, the group that received EPA showed significant decreases in FPG (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p = 0.01) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.032), when compared to the placebo group. EPA supplementation resulted in decreased serum insulin levels, with the levels between the EPA and placebo groups showing a significant difference (p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate that EPA supplementation could improve insulin sensitivity. It was able to decrease serum insulin, FPG, HbA1c and HOMA-IR. EPA could have beneficial effects on glycaemic indices in patients with T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shokouh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarbolouki
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Javanbakht
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Derakhshanian
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zareei
authors.forename: Seyed Behnam
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dorosty
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djalali
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D010919:Placebos; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid