The effect of omega-3 on the serum visfatin concentration in patients with type II diabetes

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Visfatin is an adipocytokine which is secreted from adipose tissue and can effect on the diabetes inflammatory reaction and also serum lipids level. On the other hand, Omega-3 can also prevent form insulin resistance. In the present study, the effect of Omega-3 on the serum Visfatin concentration was compared with placebo.
• METHODS: A total of 71 women with type II diabetes were randomly assigned to the group that took Omega-3 capsules or control group with placebo capsules. In the first step, the study subjects filled in a questionnaire including age, height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference. In addition, their blood samples were taken for the blood tests. In the second step, the intervention was done for 8 weeks and in the third step the aforementioned were collected again. Hip circumference was measured from the middle and the largest part of it. Waist circumference was also measured from the cord at the end of a normal exhalation. In the blood samples visfatin and lipid profiles (LDL: low density lipoprotein, HDL: high density lipoprotein, TG: triglyceride and cholesterol), glucose and HbA1c were measured.
• RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum visfatin level between Omega-3 and placebo groups before the intervention (p = 0.14), while after the intervention, the mean serum visfatin level in the Omega-3 group was significantly (p < 0.001) higher. In addition, the mean difference before and after the serum visfatin level showed a significant difference in both groups (p < 0.001).
• CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an increase in visfatin level following consuming omega-3 fats but according to controversial issues on insulin-like function of visfatin, the effects of Omega-3 on diabetes should be studied more in further studies.
• KEYWORDS:Omega-3, Visfatin, Type II diabetes.