Supplementing with Omega-3’s Can Reduce Blood Glucose

Supplementing with Omega-3’s Can Reduce Blood Glucose: In subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, six weeks of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids reduced the postprandial decrease in macrovascular function relative to placebo, and improved postprandial microvascular function, according to a recent German study In a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover manner, 34 subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus received daily either 2 g of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/ docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (termed omega-3 fatty acids) or olive oil (placebo) for six weeks. Fasting vascular function remained unchanged after omega-3 fatty acids and placebo. Postprandial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) decreased from fasting after placebo, with a maximum decrease (38%) at four hours — an effect that was significantly reduced by omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Reactive hyperemia remained unchanged after placebo, whereas it improved significantly after omega-3 fatty acids supplementation. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:808-813)