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Moreover, the research team demonstrated that, in cases of elevated LDL levels in the blood, adipose tissue inflammation was linked to abnormalities in carbohydrate (sugar) and fat metabolism, which increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
By combining clinical and fundamental research, the study also highlighted that omega-3 supplementation derived from fish oil was effective in inhibiting the effects of LDL on adipose tissue inflammation and their association with risk factors related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 supplementation also reduced carbohydrate and fat metabolism abnormalities in all subjects.
Over-the-counter omega-3 supplementation could thus be a highly effective strategy for treating adipose tissue inflammation and preventing associated conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in individuals with high LDL levels.
The weight of diabetes
Diabetes is a complex chronic disease that emerges when the body does not produce enough insulin or no longer responds to its effects. Consequently, diabetes reduces the body's ability to metabolize sugar, fats, and proteins. It affects 529 million people of all ages and backgrounds around the globe, with the majority suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Beyond its daily impact, type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing various cardiovascular, kidney, and eye diseases and remains the leading cause of disability worldwide. It's worth noting that most Canadians do not consume sufficient EPA and DHA through their diet and have low levels of EPA and DHA in their blood.
The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented, and research like that of Dr. Faraj could contribute to disease prevention by providing avenues to increase EPA and DHA levels in the blood.
The influence of omega-3s
To understand how LDL and omega-3s affect the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Dr. Faraj's team recruited 40 healthy volunteers for a clinical trial conducted between 2013 and 2019.
Among them, 33 participants underwent a 12-week omega-3 supplementation regimen, providing 2.7 g of EPA and DHA in fish oil daily. This EPA and DHA dosage falls within the supplementation range recommended by Health Canada.
Dr. Faraj's team found that EPA and DHA supplementation:
- improved insulin secretion in response to rising blood glucose levels and the clearance of blood lipids following a high-fat meal;
- reduced adipose tissue inflammation caused by LDLs;
- eliminated the link between LDL-induced adipose tissue inflammation (or other metabolic and microbial inflammatory triggers) and several risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The higher the levels of EPA and DHA in the blood, the better the management of cardiometabolic risk factors. Additionally, the team was able to corroborate these observations through laboratory (in vitro) experiments conducted with LDL, subjects' adipose tissue, and omega-3s, successfully replicating the effects observed in the clinical trial.