Sunday June 29, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study recently published in Journal of Diabetes and Complications suggests that taking omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as dietary supplements may help prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The study compared 51 patients with T2DM and NAFLD with 50 patients with T2DM only, 45 patients with NAFLD only and 42 healthy individuals to examine the relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and insulin resistance.

The study showed patients with both T2DM and NAFLD had higher levels of HOMA-IR, ALT, AST, GGT, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and triglyceride concentrations, compared with patients with T2DM only or NAFLD only or healthy controls.

 The homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index is an indicator for insulin resistance and beta-cell function.  ALT, AST, and GGT are enzymes whose levels indicate liver function.

The findings suggest that patients with both T2DM and NAFLD had worse diabetic, metabolic, and liver conditions, compared with those with T2DM only or patients with NAFLD or healthy controls.

Additionally, the study revealed significantly lower levels of serum omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the T2DM and NAFLD patients, compared with other patients or healthy controls.

The study concluded "Serum phospholipid ω-3 PUFA levels (omega 3 fatty acids levels) were significantly decreased in patients with T2DM and NAFLD, and were negatively related with insulin resistance. 

Thus, reduced ω-3 PUFAs may play an important role in the development of T2DM and NAFLD."  (David Liu, PHD)

Lou DJ, Zhu QQ, Si XW, Guan LL, You QY, Yu ZM, Zhang AZ, Li D.    Serum phospholipid omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.  J Diabetes Complications. 2014 Apr 18.