Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Cardiovascular Indices in Type 2 Diabetes: A...

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) face a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to explore the impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on cardiovascular indices in this population. Although the benefits of n-3 PUFAs on cardiovascular health and glycemic outcomes are highly regarded, previous research reports have shown inconsistent results. Therefore, a comprehensive meta-analysis is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the specific effects of n-3 PUFAs on patients with T2DM. To examine the effect of n-3 PUFAs on cardiovascular indices in T2DM using a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Online databases including PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries were searched up to December 2023. We assessed the overall weighted mean difference in cardiovascular indices between the group supplemented with n-3 PUFAs and the control group. The differences were compared uniformly using pre- and post-treatment differences.

Supplementation with n-3PUFAs in patients diagnosed solely with T2DM significantly reduced low density lipoprotein (LDL) (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -3.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -6.52 to -1.32, p = 0.003 < 0.05), triglycerides (WMD = -23.94, 95% CI = -34.95 to -12.93, p = 0.000 < 0.05), cholesterol (WMD = -8.39, 95% CI = -12.06 to -4.72, p = 0.000 < 0.05), glycated hemoglobin (WMD = -0.25, 95% CI = -0.41 to -0.06, p = 0.003 < 0.05) and the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index (WMD = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.81 to -0.29, p = 0.000 < 0.05). All other differences in lipid indices, glycemic indices, inflammatory parameters and blood pressure were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Supplementation with n-3 PUFAs decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in patients with T2DM and coronary heart disease (CHD) (WMD = -3.92, 95% CI = -6.36 to -1.48, p = 0.002 < 0.05). There were no significant differences in LDL, triglycerides, cholesterol, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with T2DM and CHD (p > 0.05).

N-3 PUFAs improved lipid levels and long-term blood glucose levels in patients diagnosed solely with T2DM, but did not significantly improve blood pressure inflammatory markers. N-3 PUFAs showed no significant improvement in blood lipid and inflammatory indexes in patients with T2DM and CHD.

CRD42024522262, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024522262.