Effect of n-3 fatty acids on metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoprotein in type 2 diabetic subjects

The effect of long-chain n-3 PUFA on the metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoprotein in diabetic subjects is not fully understood. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of a daily intake of 1080 mg EPA and 720 mg DHA for diabetic subjects on the kinetics of apoB100-containing lipoprotein in the fasting state. A kinetic study was undertaken to determine the mechanisms involved in the effects of n-3 fatty acids in terms of a decrease in triacylglycerol level in type 2 diabetic patients. We have studied the effect of fish oils on the metabolism of apoB100 endogenously labelled by [5,5,5-2H3]-leucine in type 2 diabetic patients in the fasting state. The kinetic parameters of apoB100 in VLDL, intermediate-density lipoprotein and LDL were determined by compartmental modelling in five diabetic subjects before and 8 weeks after n-3 fatty acid treatment. Treatment did not change the plasma cholesterol level (0 center dot 801 (sd 0 center dot 120) v. 0 center dot 793 (sd 0 center dot 163) mmol/l) but lowered the plasma triacylglycerol level (1 center dot 776 (sd 0 center dot 280) v.1 center dot 356 (sd 0 center dot 595) mmol/l; P < 0 center dot 05). Treated patients showed a decrease in VLDL apoB100 concentration (0 center dot 366 (sd 0 center dot 030) v.0 center dot 174 (sd 0 center dot 036) g/l; P < 0 center dot 05) related to a decrease in VLDL 1 production (1 center dot 49 (sd 0 center dot 23) v.0 center dot 44 (sd 0 center dot 19) mg/kg per h; P < 0 center dot 05) and an increase in the VLDL conversion rate (0 center dot 031 (sd 0 center dot 024) v.0 center dot 052 (sd 0 center dot 040) per h; P < 0 center dot 05), with no change in fractional catabolic rates. Treatment led to a higher direct production of intermediate-density lipoprotein (0 center dot 02 (sd 0 center dot 01) v.0 center dot 24 (sd 0 center dot 12) mg/kg per h; P < 0 center dot 05). In conclusion, the present study, conducted in the fasting state, showed that supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in type 2 diabetic patients induced beneficial changes in the metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoprotein.