Research Article

Effects of n-3 PUFA on insulin resistance after an oral fat load

  1. Giuseppe Derosa2,*,
  2. Arrigo F.G. Cicero1,
  3. Elena Fogari1,
  4. Angela D'Angelo1,
  5. Aldo Bonaventura1,
  6. Pamela Maffioli1

Article first published online: 14 JUN 2011

DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.201000504

Issue

European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology

European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology

Volume 113, Issue 8, pages 950–960, August 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Derosa, G., Cicero, A. F.G., Fogari, E., D'Angelo, A., Bonaventura, A. and Maffioli, P. (2011), Effects of n-3 PUFA on insulin resistance after an oral fat load. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol., 113: 950–960. doi: 10.1002/ejlt.201000504

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Kidney Diseases, “G. Descovich” Atherosclerosis Study Center, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

*Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, P.le C. Golgi, 2-27100 Pavia, Italy Fax: +39 0382 526259.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 AUG 2011
  2. Article first published online: 14 JUN 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 16 MAY 2011 02:10AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 15 APR 2011
  5. Manuscript Revised: 20 MAR 2011
  6. Manuscript Received: 16 OCT 2010

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (390K)

Keywords:

  • n-3 PUFA;
  • Adiponectin;
  • Insulin-resistance;
  • Oral fat load;
  • Resistin

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ω-3 PUFA (n-3 PUFA) on lipid profile and insulin resistance biomarkers. Patients were assigned to receive placebo or n-3 PUFA 1 g three times a day, during the meals, for 6 months. We evaluated: body mass index (BMI), body weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), blood pressure, lipid profile, resistin (r), retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4), adiponectin (ADN), visfatin, and vaspin. Furthermore patients underwent an oral fat load (OFL) and an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to evaluate M value, and total glucose requirement (TGR). Triglycerides value obtained with n-3 PUFA was lower, while HDL-C, and ADN values were higher compared to placebo. After the OFL, and comparing the OFL performed at the baseline and at the end of the study, there was a decrease of triglycerides (Tg), resistin (r), and RBP-4 values, and an increase of ADN value with n-3 PUFA, but not with placebo. We conclude that the treatment with n-3 PUFA resulted in a greater improvement of lipid profile and ADN compared to placebo in a baseline condition, and an improvement of all insulin resistance parameters after an OFL.

Practical applications: The inverse association between dietary intake of n-3 PUFA and cardiovascular disease morbidity/mortality was primarily established following the observation that the Greenland Inuits had low mortality from coronary heart disease despite a fat-rich diet. Our group has already shown that n-3 PUFA improved the lipid profile and the coagulation, fibrinolytic, and inflammatory parameters compared to placebo. We also observed that highly purified n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly reduced the blood pressure, pulse pressure, and basal heart rate in hypertriglyceridemic patients with normal-high blood pressure. The current study showed that treatment with n-3 PUFA not only improved lipid profile in a baseline situation, but it also improved all insulin resistance parameters in a post-prandial situation simulated with an OFL. This is another important action of the n-3 PUFA which can increase their utility in the clinical practice.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (390K)