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Effects of conjugated linoleic acid plus n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on insulin secretion and estimated insulin sensitivity in men

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 778–786 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Dietary addition of either conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) has been shown to alter adiposity and circulating lipids, risk markers of cardiovascular diseases. However, CLA may decrease insulin sensitivity, an effect that may be reversed by n-3 LC-PUFA. Thus, the potential of CLA plus n-3 LC-PUFA to affect insulin secretion and sensitivity in non-diabetic young and old, lean and obese subjects was tested.

Subjects/Methods:

CLA (3 g daily) plus n-3 LC-PUFA (3 g daily) or control oil (6 g daily) was given to lean (n=12; BMI 20–26 kg/m2) or obese (n=10; BMI 29–35 kg/m2) young (20–37 years old) or lean (n=16) or obese (n=11) older men (50–65 years) for 12 weeks. The study had a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized crossover design, and primary end points were insulin secretion and sensitivity during a standardized meal test, evaluated by modeling glucose, insulin and C-peptide data.

Results:

The combination was well tolerated. There was no significant difference in fasting levels of glucose, insulin or C-peptide after CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA treatment compared with control oil. Neither insulin secretion nor estimated sensitivity was affected by CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA in lean or obese young subjects or in older lean subjects. However, in older obese subjects, estimated insulin sensitivity was reduced with CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA compared with control (P=0.024).

Conclusions:

The results do not support beneficial effects of CLA/n-3 LC-PUFA for β-cell dysfunction or insulin resistance in humans but suggest that insulin sensitivity in older obese subjects is reduced.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Lilian Bengtsson, Diane Jackson and Ian Matheson for expert assistance in the project. We thank all of the volunteers that took part in the study. The work was supported by Scottish Government Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD) in the United Kingdom and EC Framework V Grant QLK6-2002-02288, the Swedish Research Council (Grant no. 6834), Region Skåne, the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Regione Veneto (Biotech DGR 2702/10-09-04) and the Research Development Initiative of The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    B Ahrén & M S Winzell

  2. Metabolic Unit, Institute of Biomedical Engineering (ISIB CNR), Padova, Italy

    A Mari & G Pacini

  3. Obesity and Metabolic Health Division and Vascular Health Division, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK

    C L Fyfe, F Tsofliou, A A Sneddon & L M Williams

  4. School of Life Sciences, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK

    K W Wahle

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Correspondence to B Ahrén.

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Ahrén, B., Mari, A., Fyfe, C. et al. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid plus n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on insulin secretion and estimated insulin sensitivity in men. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 778–786 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.45

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