Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Type 2 Diabetes Management
 Ann-Marie Stephens
Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s, for short) are also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids. They have been shown to help cardiovascular disease which is one of the complications of diabetes disease.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid foods include vegetable oils (primarily canola and soybean), sunflower, walnuts, wheat germ, sesame seed, corn oils and cold-water fish such as mackerel and herring.
There are two types of omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (ei.co.sa.pen.ta.e.no.ic) acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic (do.co.sa.hex.an.oic) acid (DHA), which are found mainly in oily cold-water fish, such as tuna, salmon, trout, herring, sardines, bass, swordfish, and mackerel.
With the exception of seaweed, most plants do not contain EPA or DHA. However, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is another kind of omega-3 fatty acid, is found in dark green leafy vegetables, flaxseed oil, fish oil, and canola oil, as well as nuts and beans, such as walnuts and soybeans.
Enzymes in a person's body can convert ALA to EPA and DHA. Omega-3s are vital to many body functions, such as moving calcium and other substances in and out of cells, the relaxation and contraction of muscles, blood clotting, digestion, fertility, cell division, and growth.
Many studies have found that omega-3s may be useful for such purposes as decreasing the rate of heart disease, reducing inflammation, and lowering triglyceride levels. Omega-3s have been of interest for diabetes disease primarily because having diabetes disease increases the risk of a person getting heart disease and stroke.
With regard to studies on omega-3 supplementation for type 2 diabetes, a 2001 analysis was published by the Cochrane Collaboration, of 18 randomized placebo-controlled trials on fish oil supplementation in type 2 diabetes.
The authors found that fish oil lowered triglycerides and raised LDL cholesterol but had no significant effect on fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol. One, very small, 2002 study preliminarily showed that after three months of using Omega-3 supplements, a reduction in insulin resistance was observed in overweight people who were insulin resistant.
This research was based on the observation that Greenland Eskimos who get a lot of omega-3 fatty acids from eating whale blubber have very low rates of diabetes. Additional studies are needed to determine whether omega-3 supplements are safe and beneficial for heart problems in people with type 2 diabetes. Studies that look specifically at heart disease outcomes in this population are needed. Currently, Australian researchers are investigating the effects of fish oil on patients with kidney disease undergoing dialysis.
Omega-3s appear to be safe for most adults at low-to-moderate doses. There have been some safety questions raised about fish oil supplements, because certain species of fish can be contaminated with substances from the environment, like mercury, pesticides, or PCBs. Fish oil is on the list of food substances that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers to be "generally recognized as safe."
How well a product is prepared is another factor for consumers to consider. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take fish oil supplements. Fish oil in high doses can possibly interact with, and affect the action of, certain medications, including blood-thinning drugs and drugs for high blood pressure. Potential side effects of fish oil include a fishy aftertaste, belching, stomach disturbances, and nausea.
We suggest eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in both kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.
We also suggest eating tofu and other forms of soybeans, canola, walnut and flaxseed, and their oils. These contain ALA. Increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake through foods is recommended. However, coronary artery disease patients may not be able to get enough omega-3 by diet alone. These people may want to talk to their doctor about taking a supplement.
Supplements also could help people with high triglycerides, who need even larger doses. The availability of high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements - pharmaceutical grade, free of contaminants, is an important prerequisite to their use. Fish oil supplements are best taken at or near the beginning of a meal to avoid any fishy aftertaste, and to reduce some of the other side effects.
 Ann-Marie Stephens is one of the contributing authors and co-founder of ImTypeFree.com, a site that helps you improve your diabetes lifestyle to allow you to live your life "type free." It focuses on pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes symptoms, and diabetes care and management. |
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Health & Beauty | May 2007 
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