Conclusions Short-term fish oil supplementation is associated with increasing the insulin sensitivity among those people with metabolic disorders
Background Fish oil supplementation has been shown to be associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome and benefit a wide range of chronic diseases , such as cardiovascular disease , type 2 diabetes and several types of cancers .
However , the evidence of fish oil supplementation on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity is still controversial .
This meta- analysis summarized the exist evidence of the relationship between fish oil supplementation and insulin sensitivity and aim ed to evaluate whether fish oil supplementation could improve insulin sensitivity .
Long-Term Effects of Fish Oil on Insulin Resistance and Plasma Lipoproteins in NIDDM Patients With Hypertriglyceridemia
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term ( 6-month ) effects of moderate fish oil supplementation on insulin sensitivity and plasma lipoproteins in NIDDM patients with hypertriglyceridemia . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study has been performed according to a r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled design with a parallel group sequence . After a washout period of 4 weeks and a run-in period of 3 weeks , 16 NIDDM patients with hypertriglyceridemia ( triglyceride [ TG ] , 2.25–5.65 mmol/l ) were r and omly assigned to either fish oil ( 2.7 g/day eicosapentaenoic plus docosahexaenoic acid for 2 months , then 1.7 g/day for 4 more months ) ( n = 8) or placebo ( n = 8) .  Diet and hypoglycemic drugs remained unchanged throughout the whole experiment . At baseline and after 6 months , insulin sensitivity was measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp ( insulin infused , 2.0 mIU · kg−1 body wt · min−1 ) . At the same time , blood glucose control , fasting and postpr and ial serum insulin and nonesterified fatty acid ( NEFA ) concentrations , and fasting plasma lipoprotein concentrations were evaluated . RESULTS In the group treated with ffish oil compared with the baseline , there was : 1 ) a significant reduction in both plasma TG ( 2.92 ± 0.23 vs. 3.85 ± 0.32 [ mean ± SE ] mmol/l , P < 0.001 ) and VLDL-TG ( 2.35 ± 0.24 vs. 4.25 ± 0.66 mmol/l , P < 0.01 ) , without significant changes in blood glucose control ; 2 ) a significant reduction in fasting NEFA concentrations ( 572 ± 100 vs. 825 ± 131 μmol/l , P < 0.01 ) ; and 3 ) a significant enrichment in long-chain ω-3 fatty acids of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids . In the placebo group , there were no changes in any of the variables analyzed . The insulin-mediated glucose uptake was unchanged in both groups ( fish oil , 4.04 ± 0.82 mg · kg−1 · min−1 at baseline and 3.96 ± 0.50 mg · kg−1 · min−1 at 6 months ; placebo , 3.51 ± 0.62 mg · kg−1 · min−1 at baseline and 4.09 ± 0.49 mg · kg−1 · min−1 at 6 months ) . CONCLUSIONS In NIDDM patients with hypertriglyceridemia , moderate amounts of fish oil induce a long-term significant reduction in plasma triglycerides , VLDL triglycerides , and NEFA and a significant enrichment in the erythrocyte phospholipid content of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids , without deteriorating blood glucose control . However , this amount of ω-3 fatty acids was unable to improve insulin sensitivity in this group of patients
Conclusions Short-term fish oil supplementation is associated with increasing the insulin sensitivity among those people with metabolic disorders
Background Fish oil supplementation has been shown to be associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome and benefit a wide range of chronic diseases , such as cardiovascular disease , type 2 diabetes and several types of cancers .
However , the evidence of fish oil supplementation on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity is still controversial .
This meta- analysis summarized the exist evidence of the relationship between fish oil supplementation and insulin sensitivity and aim ed to evaluate whether fish oil supplementation could improve insulin sensitivity .