(06-08-11) Omega-3 fatty acids and incident type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese Health Study

1. Diana P Brostow,
2. Andrew O Odegaard,
3. Woon-Puay Koh,
4. Sue Duval,
5. Myron D Gross,
6. Jian-Min Yuan, and
7. Mark A Pereira
+ Author Affiliations
1. 1From the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (DPB, AOO, SD, MDG, J-MY, and MAP); the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore (W-PK); and The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (J-MY).
+ Author Notes
? ↵2 DPB and AOO contributed equally to this research.
? ↵3 Supported by the NIH (NCI RO1 CA055069, R35 CA053890, R01 CA080205, R01 CA098497, and R01 CA144034).
? ↵4 Address correspondence to AO Odegaard, University of Minnesota, Epidemiology and Community Health, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis MN 55454. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
Background: The role of omega-3 (n?3) fatty acids (FAs) in the development of type 2 diabetes is uncertain, especially with regard to any differential influence of ?-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Objective: The objective was to examine the association between total omega-3 FAs, marine omega-3 (EPA, DHA), nonmarine omega-3 (ALA), and omega-6 (n?6) FAs and omega-6:omega-3 ratio and risk of type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population in Singapore.
Design: The analysis included 43,176 Chinese men and women free of chronic disease, aged 45?74 y, in the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Baseline data collection occurred between 1993 and 1998, with follow-up interviews between 1999 and 2004. Cox regression models were used to examine the associations between FA intakes at baseline and risk of developing diabetes.
Results: Increased intakes of total omega-3 FAs were inversely associated with diabetes incidence [hazard ratio (HR) for the fifth compared with the first quintile: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.94; P for trend = 0.02]. Omega-3 FAs from marine sources were not associated with diabetes risk, whereas nonmarine omega-3 FA intake was strongly associated (HR for the fifth compared with the first quintile: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.93; P for trend = 0.004). Omega-6 and omega-6:omega-3 ratio were not associated with incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion: Consumption of nonmarine sources (ALA) of omega-3 FAs is associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese Singaporeans.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr August 2011 vol. 94 no. 2 520-

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