Dietary Modulation of Plasma and Adipose Tissue n‐3:n‐6 PUFA Ratio has no Effect on Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Obese Gambian Women

Abstract

This study examined whether increasing long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n‐3 PUFA) intake have benefits on glucose tolerance in obese Gambian women and on their fatty acid and lipid profiles, anthropometrics, blood pressure and inflammation status. Fifty four obese women with impaired glucose tolerance entered a 24‐week randomised intervention study. Women received LC n‐3 PUFA capsules and high n‐3 cooking oil (n = 30) or placebo capsules and high n‐6 cooking oil (n = 24). Measurements were taken at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks intervention and expressed as percentage of baseline values. In the intervention group, LC n‐3 PUFA increased in plasma (208%, p<0.0001) and adipose tissue (168%, p<0.0001), leading to an increase in n‐3:n‐6 PUFA ratio. There was no effect of high n‐3 PUFAs on fasting glucose, 120‐min glucose or fasting insulin, although insulin sensitivity assessed by the homeostasis model assessment improved modestly in the intervention group (p = 119%, p = 0.04 at 24 weeks). No differences were observed in weight, BMI and fat mass between the two groups, or in inflammatory markers, blood pressure or triglycerides. We conclude that although LC n‐3 PUFA supplementation modifies the fatty acid profile in obese Gambian women, there was no evidence that it had benefits on their glucose tolerance, triglycerides or inflammatory status.This work was supported by UK MRC.