(13-03-10) Effects of n?3 fatty acids on macro- and microvascular function in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus1,2,3

Alin Stirban, Simona Nandrean, Christian G?tting, Ronald Tamler, Alexandra Pop, Monica Negrean, Thomas Gawlowski, Bernd Stratmann and Diethelm Tschoepe

1 From the Diabetes Center (AS SN AP MN TG BSDT)the Institute for LaboratoryTransfusion Medicine (CG) HeartDiabetes Center NRW Bad Oeynhausen Ruhr-University Bochum Bochum Germany;the Division of Endocrinology DiabetesBone Diseases The Mount Sinai Medical Center New York NY (RT).
2 Supported by the German-Romanian Association for the Study of Diabetes Complications and an unrestricted grant from Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Hannover, Germany. The capsules were donated by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Hannover, Germany.
3 Address correspondence to A Stirban, Medical Clinic 1, Teutoburger Strasse 50, 33604 Bielefeld, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] .
Background: Recent evidence supports the protective effects of n?3 (omega-3) fatty acids (n?3 FAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on vascular function.
Objective: We investigated the effects of EPA and DHA on postprandial vascular function in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Design: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover manner, 34 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus received daily either 2 g purified EPA/DHA (termed n?3 FAs) or olive oil (placebo) for 6 wk. At the end of this period, we measured macrovascular (brachial ultrasound of flow-mediated dilatation; FMD) and microvascular [laser-Doppler measurements of reactive hyperemia (RH) of the hand] function at fasting and 2, 4, and 6 h after a high-fat meal (600 kcal, 21 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 40 g fat).
Results: Fasting vascular function remained unchanged after n?3 FAs and placebo. Postprandial FMD decreased from fasting after placebo, with a maximum decrease (38%) at 4 h?an effect that was significantly reduced (P = 0.03 for time x treatment interaction) by n?3 FA supplementation (maximum decrease in FMD was at 4 h: 13%). RH remained unchanged after placebo, whereas it improved significantly (P = 0.04 for time x treatment interaction) after n?3 FA supplementation (maximum increase was at 2 h: 27%).
Conclusions: In subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 6 wk of supplementation with n?3 FAs reduced the postprandial decrease in macrovascular function relative to placebo. Moreover, n?3 FA supplementation improved postprandial microvascular function. These observations suggest a protective vascular effect of n?3 FAs.


Source: Am J Clin Nutr 91: 808-813, 2010.

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