A Brazilian study published in Nutrients suggests that fish oil may help reduce insulin resistance and improve glucose tolerance in non-obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that supplementation with 2 grams of fish oil per kilogram of body weight, three times a week for eight weeks, reduced insulin resistance in rats and improved levels of blood sugar, inflammatory markers, and lipid features.
The study used Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, an animal model for non-obese type 2 diabetes. The researchers observed that the fish oil supplementation modulated the inflammatory response, changing the profile of defense cells from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state. This process parallels the response of obese individuals with insulin resistance to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.
The study’s findings offer hope for non-obese type 2 diabetes patients, who account for 10%-20% of the worldwide total with the disease. The researchers stress that more research is needed to confirm their findings and estimate the ideal dose and most indicated type of omega-3 fatty acid for human trials.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/diabetes-breakthrough-fish-oil-may-reverse-insulin-resistance