title: Erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of type 2 diabetes in Koreans: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is inconsistent epidemiologic evidence for an association between tissue levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFAs are negatively associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and correlated with levels of glucose and HbA1c in Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 130 patients with type 2 diabetes and 260 age- and sex-matched controls participated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of 22:5n3 and 22:6n3, which were negatively correlated with HbA1c levels after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index. Additionally, the risk of type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of 18:0 and 20:4n6, but positively associated with erythrocyte levels of 16:0, 18:1n9, 18:3n3, 18:2n6, 18:3n6, n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, 18:1t and 18:2n6t, and Δ-6 desaturase (18:3n6/18:2n6) and Δ-9 desaturase (18:1n9/18:0) activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFA, which were negatively correlated with HbA1c levels in Koreans, suggesting that n-3 PUFAs might reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in Asians.
authors: Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sunyoung
authors: S
authors: Jo
authors: Won-Suk
authors: WS
authors: An
authors: Yongsoon
authors: Y
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; D050602:Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase