Erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of type 2 diabetes in Koreans: a case-control study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is inconsistent epidemiologic evidence for an association between tissue levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFAs are negatively associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and correlated with levels of glucose and HbA1c in Koreans. METHODS: A total of 130 patients with type 2 diabetes and 260 age- and sex-matched controls participated in this study. RESULTS: The risk of type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of 225n3 and 226n3, which were negatively correlated with HbA1c levels after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index. Additionally, the risk of type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of 180 and 204n6, but positively associated with erythrocyte levels of 160, 181n9, 183n3, 182n6, 183n6, n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, 181t and 182n6t, and Δ-6 desaturase (183n6/182n6) and Δ-9 desaturase (181n9/180) activities. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of type 2 diabetes was negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFA, which were negatively correlated with HbA1c levels in Koreans, suggesting that n-3 PUFAs might reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in Asians.