Researchers have said that high concentrations of serum long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, derived from fish and fish oils, may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Ongoing at the University of Eastern Finland, the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD) determined the serum omega-3 fatty acid concentrations of 2,212 men between 42 and 60 years of age at the onset of the study, in 1984-1989.
During a follow-up of 19.3 years, 422 men were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Serum long-chain omega-3 fatty acid concentrations were used to divide the subjects into four categories.
The risk of men in the highest serum omega-3 fatty acid concentration quarter to develop type 2 diabetes was 33 per cent lower than the risk of men in the lowest quarter.
The study sheds new light on the association between fish consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes. A well-balanced diet should include at least two fish meals per week, preferably fatty fish.
The study has been published in journal Diabetes Care.
