Omega 3s and the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Omega 3 fatty acids may help in the treatment of type 1 diabetes, according to a recent article in the news.

Medical News Today reported that new research published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation showed Omega 3s reduced the auto-immune responses typical of type 1 diabetes, and that supplementation could treat and even reverse autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes.

Researchers, led by Allan Zhao at the Guangdong University of Technology, China, added Omega 3 fatty acids to the diet of non-obese mice with type 1 diabetes. They also increased the levels of Omega 3s in the mice through genetic modification.

Mice Tested

The mice were tested every three months for glucose and insulin tolerance. The examined the pancreas of the mice for insulitis—an infiltration of lymphocytes in the islets of the pancreas, a phenomenon typical of type 1 diabetes. They collected blood from the mice and measured their levels of serum insulin.

The study found that adding Omega 3s to the diet significantly improved the metabolism o glucose and decreased the incidence of type 1 diabetes in the mice.

There was a decrease in pro-inflammatory cell-signalling protein and a considerable drop in insulitis. Zhao and his team also noticed signs of beta cell regeneration in mice that had been treated with Omega 3s.

Normalised Blood Sugars

Supplementation AND genetic therapy normalised blood sugars and insulin levels for a minimum of 182 days.

The researchers concluded that their observations “may offer clinical guidance” to people who were at the early onstage of type 1 diabetes*, or who have consistently sound management of their blood glucose levels.

There are a lot of stages from animal tests to prescribed treatment for humans. In the meantime, can we recommend adding in plenty of oily fish to your diet? It won’t do any harm. Here are some of our favourite fishy recipes:

• Mediterranean Trout with Kale
• Cheese-stuffed salmon and crab rolls
• Seabass Genoa Style
• Fish Soup and Grilled Aubergine

If you buy grass-fed beef, and eggs from free-range hens that are fed a diet high in Omega 3s, you can get your nutrients that way too.

*Sigh. It’s always the newbies, isn’t it?!