Journal Name:
JAMA
Article Title:
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Islet Autoimmunity in Children at Increased Risk for Type 1 Diabetes
Date Written:
2007
Volume:
298
Number:
12
Page:
1420
Author(s):
Norris, J.M.; Yin, X.; Lamb, M.M.; Barriga, K.; Seifert, J.; Hoffman, M.; Orton, H.D.; Barón, A.E.; Clare-Salzler, M.; Chase, H.P.; Szabo, N.J.; Erlich, H.; Eisenbarth, G.S.; Rewers, M.
Article:
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets. Although it is not yet known what initiates the autoimmune process, it is likely that both genetic background and environmental factors contribute to the disease process.
Previous studies in children with diabetes showed that the consumption of longer chain omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may help to reduce the tendency to develop autoimmunity. The clinical phase of type 1 diabetes, where hyperglycemia manifests, is preceded by an asymptomatic period that varies in duration, in which auto antibodies to the beta cells and their antigens are detectable in the blood. Increases in these auto antibodies confers a high risk of subsequent development of type 1 diabetes.
To examine the role of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in the etiology of diabetes, data was examined from two studies in the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY), which followed a cohort of children at risk for diabetes for the appearance of islet auto antibodies. The association between reported dietary intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (food frequency questionnaire – FFQ) and the appearance of islet auto antibodies in the entire DAISY population was assessed. In addition, a case cohort study within DAISY was conducted to examine the association between fatty acid content of the erythrocyte membranes, a biomarker of EFA status, and the appearance of islet auto antibodies. The data from this study suggests that higher consumption of total omega-3 fatty acids (including ALA), which was reported on the FFQ, was associated with a lower risk of IA in children at increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes. This association was further substantiated by the observation that a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in the erythrocyte membranes are associated with a decreased risk of IA in a subset of this same population.
The authors hypothesize that under conditions of relative abundance of membrane omega-6 fatty acids, production of the proinflammatory eicosanoids may predominate and contribute to the etiology of type 1 diabetes; whereas, increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids may limit production of prostaglandins and promote the generation of anti-inflammatory compounds. The data suggest that ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids throughout childhood may decrease the risk of IA. Further research is on-going to determine if dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids could become a mainstay for early intervention to safely prevent the development of type 1 diabetes.
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