The Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Serum Levels of Apolipoproteins in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Lipoprotein disorders are an integral component of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of lipid disorders can be beneficial in prevention and treatment of many complications associated with T2DM.The aim of this study wasto determine the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on the serum levels of apolipoproteins (Apos) A1, A2, B48 and C3 in patients withT2DM.

In this 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 44 T2DMpatients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=22, receiving daily 2.4 g DHA) or a placebo group (n = 22, receiving paraffin). The serum levels of AposA1, A2, B48 and C3 were measured in all the patients at the beginning and at the end of the period.

There was a statistically significant increase in the mean serum level of ApoA1 in the DHA group (p = 0.014). In addition, a significant difference was observed in the serum level of ApoC3 after intervention between the DHA and placebo group (p=0.031). There were no significant differences between the two groups as regards the mean changes in serum levels of ApoA1, ApoA2, ApoB48 and ApoC3.

Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acidhasno effects on the serum levels of apolipoproteins in patients with type-2 diabetes