Fish-oil supplement has neutral effects on vascular and metabolic function but improves renal function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2010-01, Vol.27 (1), p.54-60
• Main Authors: Wong, C.-Y., Yiu, K.-H., Li, S.-W., Lee, S., Tam, S., Lau, C.-P., Tse, H.-F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brachial Artery - drug effects; Brachial Artery - physiopathology; C-Reactive Protein - drug effects; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; fish oil; Fish Oils - therapeutic use; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Placebos; Renal Artery - drug effects; Renal Artery - physiopathology; renal function; vascular function; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2009.02869.x

Diabet. Med. 27, 54–60 (2010) Aims  Increased dietary fish‐oil consumption is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart events and has pronounced effects on dyslipidaemia. However, the effects of fish‐oil supplement on vascular function and metabolic profile in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are unclear. Methods  In a double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial, we randomized 97 Type 2 DM patients without prior cardiovascular disease to fish‐oil (4 g/day, n = 49) or olive‐oil (with equivalent calories, as placebo, n = 48) supplements for 12 weeks. Assessment of vascular function with brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and metabolic parameters, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), oxidative stress markers and renal function were examined before and after the supplement. Results  Despite a significant reduction in serum triglycerides (−0.47 mmol/l, P  0.05). In contrast, serum creatinine was lower (−4.5 μmol/l, P = 0.01) in fish‐oil‐treated patients as compared with control subjects. Conclusions  This study demonstrated that 12 weeks of fish‐oil supplement had no significant beneficial effect on vascular endothelial function, but improved renal function without changes in endothelial function, metabolic profiles, blood pressure, inflammation or oxidative stress in patients with Type 2 DM.