A very large and important study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in July 2024.  Using data from the UK Biobank Study, which followed over 20,000 type 2 diabetics for an average of 13.2 years, the study showed that type 2 diabetics who take omega-3 fat supplements daily had 10% lower risk of heart disease, peripheral artery disease, diabetic kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic neuropathy. Type 2 diabetics who did not take omega-3 fat supplements did not see the same benefits. This is important because many type 2 diabetics die from heart attacks and they are very high risk for blindness from diabetic retinopathy (macular degeneration) and kidney disease requiring dialysis, as well as impaired circulation to the legs and feet (often causing intractable pain or leading to gangrene and amputation). They also have a high risk for nerve pain from diabetic neuropathy.

A 10% reduction in the risk of these complications and outcomes from simply taking an omega-3 supplement each day is a ground-breaking discovery. If they invented a drug that could reduce these complications and outcomes by 10% in type 2 diabetics, it would be all over the news and doctors would be prescribing it as regular or mandatory course of treatment. But, because we are talking about supplements, the chances are pretty good that most doctors will never see this research and patients will never know about it. That is why I am bringing this research to your attention today. The researchers on the study explained that omega-3 fats appear to be helpful because they lower blood fat levels and reduce circulating levels of inflammation-promoting chemicals (i.e., cytokines and prostaglandins) linked to vascular complications and nerve damage in all regions of the body. In previous updates I showed evidence that the safe and effective dosage of omega-3 fat supplementation is between 800 and 1200 mg per day. This remains a good target for type 2 diabetics. But it is also a good target for the rest of us as well, as this level of intake can help promote improved cardiovascular health and brain health for just about everyone. This is one more striking illustration that evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine is good medicine.

I have provided a link to the research paper in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in the text below.

References:

Tian S et al. Fish oil, plasma n-3 PUFA, and risk of macro-and microvascular complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. July 12, 2024. Fish Oil, Plasma n-3 PUFAs, and Risk of Macro- and Microvascular Complications among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Choudhury J. Fish oil supplements cut diabetes complications risk. Medscape July 24, 2024. Fish Oil Supplements Cut Diabetes Complication Risk (medscape.com)

Eat Smart, Live Well, Look Great,
Dr. Meschino