Sex-dependent association between erythrocyte n-3 PUFA and type 2 diabetes in older overweight people. Issue 8 (18th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abbott, Kylie A.; Veysey, Martin; Lucock, Mark; Niblett, Suzanne; King, Katrina; Burrows, Tracy; Garg, Manohar L.
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 115:Issue 8(2016)
• Page Start: 1379
• Page End: 1386
• Publication Date: 2016-02-18
• Subjects: n-3 Index, -- Type 2 diabetes, -- Obesity, -- PUFA, -- Insulin resistance; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114516000258
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: The association between n -3 PUFA intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is unclear, and studies relating objective biomarkers of n -3 PUFA consumption to diabetic status remain limited. The aim of this study was to determine whether erythrocyte n -3 PUFA levels ( n -3 index; n -3I) are associated with T2D in a cohort of older adults ( n 608). To achieve this, the n -3I (erythrocyte %EPA+%DHA) was determined by GC and associated with fasting blood glucose; HbA1c; and plasma insulin. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA--IR). OR for T2D were calculated for each quartile of n -3I. In all, eighty-two type 2 diabetic (46·3 % female; 76·7 (sd 5·9) years) and 466 non-diabetic (57·9 % female; 77·8 (sd 7·1) years) individuals were included in the analysis. In overweight/obese (BMI≥27 kg/m 2 ), the prevalence of T2D decreased across ascending n -3I quartiles: 1·0 (reference), 0·82 (95 % CI 0·31, 2·18), 0·56 (95 % CI 0·21, 1·52) and 0·22 (95 % CI 0·06, 0·82) ( P trend =0·015). A similar but non-significant trend was seen in overweight men. After adjusting for BMI, no associations were found between n -3I and fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin or HOMA-IR. In conclusion, higher erythrocyte n -3 PUFA status may be protective against the development of T2D in overweight women. Further research is warranted to determine whether dietary interventions that improve n -3 PUFA status can improve measures of IR, and to further elucidate sex-dependent differences.