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Effect of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA on blood glucose: a meta-analysis

Li N, Yue H, Jia M, Liu W, Qiu B, Hou H, Huang F, Xu T

Food & function, 2019

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of increasing dietary low-ratio n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake on blood glucose and other related indicators.

METHODS: We systematically searched randomized controlled trials of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA intervention on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and related references up to August 2018. The change values were calculated as the weighted mean difference (WMD) by using a random-effect model.

RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials were included. No significant effect of dietary low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation was observed on fasting blood glucose (WMD: 0.057 mmol L-1; 95% CI: -0.090 to 0.204 mmol L-1), insulin (WMD: -0.757 mIU L-1; 95% CI: -2.419 to 0.904 mIU L-1), insulin resistance index (WMD: -0.201; 95% CI: -0.566 to 0.165), and glycosylated hemoglobin (WMD: -0.063%; 95% CI: -0.061 to 0.186%). Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA on the reduction of the plasma insulin level in North America (WMD: -3.473 mIU L-1; 95% CI: -5.760 to -1.185 mIU L-1) was more obvious than that in Asian countries (WMD: -0.797 mIU L-1; 95% CI: -2.497 to 0.902 mIU L-1) and European countries (WMD: -0.063 mIU L-1; 95% CI: -0.061 to 0.186 mIU L-1). In the subgroup of diabetic subjects, low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA supplementation can decrease the plasma insulin level (WMD: -3.010 mIU L-1; 95% CI: -5.371 to -0.648 mIU L-1) and insulin resistance index (WMD: -0.460; 95% CI:…

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