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Fish Oil Supplements Reduce Adiposity in Type 2 Diabetics

Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2008

French researchers report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for December that, two months of daily fish oil supplements reduces adiposity and atherogenic markers in women with type 2 diabetes.

The study involved 27 women with type 2 diabetes and without hypertriglyceridemia, who were randomized to take 3 gm of fish oil -- containing 1.8 gm n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) -- or placebo (paraffin oil) daily for two months.

At the end of the study period, body mass index and energy intake was unchanged and insulin sensitivity was essentially the same in the two groups. However, total fat mass and subcutaneous adipocyte diameter were lower in the study group than controls, report Dr. Salwa W. Rizkalla of INSERM Nutrionique in Paris, and colleagues.

Patients taking fish oil had lower plasma triacylglycerol, a lower atherogenic index (the ratio of triacylglycerol to HDL cholesterol), and lower plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels than patients on placebo. A subset of inflammation-related genes was also reduced in subcutaneous adipose tissue with fish oil supplements but not placebo.

The investigators concluded that, "These beneficial effects could be linked to morphologic and inflammatory changes in adipose tissue."

Dr. Rizkalla stated that, "Patients with type 2 diabetes can take a moderate dose (1.8 g/day) of n-3 PUFA in total security. "This dose will not deteriorate their glycemic control or their insulin sensitivity, but it will help in decreasing adiposity and some related inflammatory changes."

However, caution is needed in patients taking anticoagulants. "In these cases, strict control should be used to stabilize their INR," Dr. Rizkalla advised.

"A diet rich in fish oil would be of benefit, but taking these capsules on a regular basis would be easier than eating fish and can insure a stable effect," Dr. Rizkalla commented. In addition, of course, supplements "will be of great help in those who do not like to eat fish."

Source: Diabetes In Control: Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:1670-1679.