ABSTRACT
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