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Improvement of Nrf2 gene expression and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial

Pegah Golpour, M. Nourbakhsh, Maryam Mazaherioun, L. Janani, M. Nourbakhsh, P. Yaghmaei

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 2020

30 participants · 43 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Nrf2 is a transcription factor that induces the expression of several proteins with antioxidant properties such as sestrin2 (Sesn2) and is therefore considered as the major regulator of anti-oxidative defence system.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research was to study the effect of supplementation with n-3 PUFAs on the antioxidant status and the gene expression of Nrf2 and Sestrin2 (Sesn2) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty patients with T2DM were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised clinical trial. Intervention and design: The participants were randomly allocated to two intervention groups receiving either n-3 PUFAs (2,700 mg/day) (n=30) or placebo soft gels containing 900 mg of edible paraffin (n=30). The main outcome measures were the expression of Sesn2 and Nrf2 genes which were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis by real-time PCR. Total antioxidant status in plasma samples was also measured based on the ferric reducing ability of plasma.

RESULTS

Nrf2 gene expression was significantly increased in n-3 PUFA-supplemented subjects, compared with the placebo group. Plasma total antioxidant status was also significantly augmented in n-3 PUFA-supplemented subjects. Sesn2 gene expression was not significantly affected by n-3 PUFA supplementation although a slight up-regulation was observed.

CONCLUSION

Supplementation with n-3 PUFAs enhanced Nrf2 gene…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 30 participants or records.

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