Effects of fish oil supplements in NIDDM subjects: Controlled study

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 821 - 829
• Main Authors: Hendra, Timothy J, Britton, Mary E, Roper, David R, Wagaine-Twabwe, Daniel, Jeremy, James Y, Dandona, Paresh, Haines, Andrew P, Yudkin, John S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Diabetes Association 01.08.1990
• Subjects: aceites de pescado; aceites vegetales; acide gras; acidos grasos; additif alimentaire; aditivos alimentarios; administration & dosage; analysis; biosintesis; biosynthese; biosynthesis; blood; blood composition; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - analysis; blood lipids; blood platelets; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; cell membranes; cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; colesterol; complications; composicion de la sangre; composition du sang; diabete; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetic Angiopathies; Diabetic Angiopathies - blood; Diabetic Angiopathies - etiology; Diabetic Angiopathies - prevention & control; Diet, Diabetic; dietary supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Drug Combinations; drug effects; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; etiology; fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Female; fish oils; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Fish Oils - pharmacology; food additives; Food, Fortified; globulinas; globuline; globulins; glucosa; glucose; Hemostasis; Hemostasis - drug effects; huile de poisson; huile vegetale; Humans; lipide; lipidos; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Male; membranas celulares; membrane cellulaire; olea europaea; olive oil; pharmacology; plant oils; platelet aggregation; platelets; prevention & control; sang; sangre; thrombocyte; Thromboxane B2; Thromboxane B2 - blood; thromboxanes; triacylglycerols; trigliceridos; triglyceride; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; trombocitos
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.13.8.821

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fish oil preparation (MaxEPA) on hemostatic function and fasting lipid and glucose levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) subjects. Eighty NIDDM outpatients aged 55.9 yr (mean SD 11.5 yr) participated in a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study of MaxEPA capsules (10 g/day) or olive oil (control) treatment over 6 wk. Patients received either MaxEPA or olive oil in addition to preexisting therapy. Metabolic and hemostatic variables were measured before treatment and after 3 and 6 wk. Platelet membrane eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content increased in the treatment group (P less than 0.001). MaxEPA suplementation was associated with a significant fall in total triglycerides (P less than 0.001) but did not affect total cholesterol (P = 0.7) compared with control treatment. Fasting plasma glucose increased after 3 wk (P = 0.01) but not after 6 wk (P = 0.17) treatment with MaxEPA. Spontaneous platelet aggregation in whole blood fell in the MaxEPA group (P less than 0.02) after 6 wk, but there were no changes in agonist-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane generation in platelet-rich plasma, or plasma beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor IV levels. An increase in clotting factor VII (P = 0.02), without changes in fibrinogen or factor X levels, occurred in the MaxEPA group. Similar reductions in blood pressure were observed in both groups. Dietary supplementation with MaxEPA capsules (10 g/day) in NIDDM subjects is associated with improvement in hypertriglyceridemia but with deleterious effects in factor VII and blood glucose levels. Most indices of platelet function are unaffected by this therapy.