Effects of Purified Omega - 3 Fatty Acids in Postmenopausal Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Omega 3 fatty acid (03FA) consumption has been shown to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease. TYPE 2 diabetes confers an adverse cardiovascular risk profile particularly in women after menopause. The aim of this study was to determine whether a dietary supplement with omega 3 fatty acids affected insulin resistance, glycemic control and cardiovascular risk markers in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. A total of 32 postmenopausal overweight women with diet-controlled type 2 diabetes completed a randomized double blind parallel trial of purified omega 3 fatty acid supplementation (2g/day) versus placebo for 10 weeks. Evaluated were serum triglycerides (TG), HDL-c, total cholesterol (TC) and glucose using the enzymatic method, Insulin by radioimmunoassay and insulin resistance using the Homeostasis Model Assessment method (HOMA-IR) were calculated. Relative to those in the placebo group, TG decreased significantly (P=0.03) in the 03FA group. 03FA supplementation had no significant effect on serum LDL-c, HDL-c, glucose and insulin resistance but there was a significant increase in serum insulin and TC in the 03FA group at the end of study compared to the beginning (P=0.04, P=0.04 respectively). Intake of 2g 03FA had favorable effects on serum TG and TG/HDL-C, no effect of LDL-C, HDL-C, glucose and insulin resistance but did have an adverse effect on serum insulin and TC. Recommendation of 03FA intake in diabetic postmenopausal women needs further investigation.