The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fish oil preparation (MaxEPA) on hemostatic function and fasting lipid and glucose levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) subjects. Eighty NIDDM outpatients aged 55.9 yr (mean SD 11.5 yr) participated in a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study of MaxEPA capsules (10 g/day) or olive oil (control) treatment over 6 wk. Patients received either MaxEPA or olive oil in addition to preexisting therapy. Metabolic and hemostatic variables were measured before treatment and after 3 and 6 wk. Platelet membrane eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content increased in the treatment group (P < 0.001). MaxEPA supplementation was associated with a significant fall in total triglycerides (P < 0.001) but did not affect total cholesterol (P = 0.7) compared with control treatment. Fasting plasma glucose increased after 3 wk (P = 0.01) but not after 6 wk (P = 0.17) treatment with MaxEPA. Spontaneous platelet aggregation in whole blood fell in the MaxEPA group (P < 0.02) after 6 wk, but there were no changes in agonist-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane generation in platelet-rich plasma, or plasma P-thromboglobulin and platelet factor IV levels. An increase in clotting factor VII (P = 0.02), without changes in fibrinogen or factor X levels, occurred in the MaxEPA group. Similar reductions in blood pressure were observed in both groups. Dietary supplementation with MaxEPA capsules (10 g/day) in NIDDM subjects is associated with improvement in hypertriglyceridemia but with deleterious effects in factor VII and blood glucose levels. Most indices of platelet function are unaffected by this therapy.
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Original Articles|
August 01 1990
Effects of Fish Oil Supplements in NIDDM Subjects: Controlled Study
Timothy J Hendra, MRCP;
Timothy J Hendra, MRCP
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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Mary E Britton, MRCP;
Mary E Britton, MRCP
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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David R Roper, FIMLS;
David R Roper, FIMLS
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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Daniel Wagaine-Twabwe, MB;
Daniel Wagaine-Twabwe, MB
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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James Y Jeremy, PhD;
James Y Jeremy, PhD
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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Paresh Dandona, FRCP;
Paresh Dandona, FRCP
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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Andrew P Haines, MRCP;
Andrew P Haines, MRCP
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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John S Yudkin, FRCP
John S Yudkin, FRCP
Academic Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Department of Primary Health Care, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Whittington Hospital; and the Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Timothy J. Hendra, MRCP, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK.
Diabetes Care 1990;13(8):821–829
Article history
Received:
October 09 1989
Revision Received:
March 21 1990
Accepted:
March 21 1990
PubMed:
2209315
Citation
Timothy J Hendra, Mary E Britton, David R Roper, Daniel Wagaine-Twabwe, James Y Jeremy, Paresh Dandona, Andrew P Haines, John S Yudkin; Effects of Fish Oil Supplements in NIDDM Subjects: Controlled Study. Diabetes Care 1 August 1990; 13 (8): 821–829. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.13.8.821
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