Abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) face a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to explore the impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on cardiovascular indices in this population. Although the benefits of n-3 PUFAs on cardiovascular health and glycemic outcomes are highly regarded, previous research reports have shown inconsistent results. Therefore, a comprehensive meta-analysis is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the specific effects of n-3 PUFAs on patients with T2DM. To examine the effect of n-3 PUFAs on cardiovascular indices in T2DM using a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Online databases including PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries were searched up to December 2023. We assessed the overall weighted mean difference in cardiovascular indices between the group supplemented with n-3 PUFAs and the control group. The differences were compared uniformly using pre- and post-treatment differences. RESULTS: Supplementation with n-3PUFAs in patients diagnosed solely with T2DM significantly reduced low density lipoprotein (LDL) (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -3.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -6.52 to -1.32, p = 0.003 < 0.05), triglycerides (WMD = -23.94, 95% CI = -34.95 to -12.93, p = 0.000 < 0.05), cholesterol (WMD = -8.39, 95% CI = -12.06 to -4.72, p = 0.000 < 0.05), glycated hemoglobin (WMD = -0.25, 95% CI = -0.41 to -0.06, p = 0.003 < 0.05) and the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index (WMD = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.81 to -0.29, p = 0.000 < 0.05). All other differences in lipid indices, glycemic indices, inflammatory parameters and blood pressure were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Supplementation with n-3 PUFAs decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration in patients with T2DM and coronary heart disease (CHD) (WMD = -3.92, 95% CI = -6.36 to -1.48, p = 0.002 < 0.05). There were no significant differences in LDL, triglycerides, cholesterol, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with T2DM and CHD (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: N-3 PUFAs improved lipid levels and long-term blood glucose levels in patients diagnosed solely with T2DM, but did not significantly improve blood pressure inflammatory markers. N-3 PUFAs showed no significant improvement in blood lipid and inflammatory indexes in patients with T2DM and CHD. THE PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42024522262, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024522262.