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Diabetic Women Benefit from Increased Fish Intake

Eating fish at least once each week was associated with reduced risks for CHD and death.

Diabetic patients commonly exhibit high triglyceride levels, which can be lowered by fish oil supplementation. In this analysis from the Nurses' Health Study, researchers prospectively examined the effects of consumption of long-chain -3 fatty acids, fish, and shellfish on the risks for coronary heart disease (including CHD-related deaths and nonfatal myocardial infarctions) and all-cause mortality among 5103 diabetic women from 1980 to 1996.

Analyses were adjusted for age and other cardiac risk factors. Compared with women who consumed fish less than once monthly, those who consumed fish once weekly, 2-4 times weekly, and 5 or more times weekly significantly lowered their risk for CHD by 40%, 35%, and 62%, respectively; corresponding risk reductions for all-cause mortality were 33%, 31%, and 51%, respectively. Intake of -3 fatty acids, as estimated by the amount and type of fish/shellfish consumed, also was inversely associated with lower risk for CHD, but the results were not statistically significant. However, the risk for death from any cause was significantly reduced with higher intake of -3 fatty acids.

Comment: The cardiovascular benefit that diabetics derive from increased consumption of fish, shellfish, and fish oil may result from reduction of triglyceride levels, inhibition of platelet aggregability, or antiarrhythmic effects. Other studies have indicated that greater fish consumption lowers the risk for microalbuminuria, suggesting the possibility of additional microvascular benefits in diabetics. These results support the recommendation that diabetics should regularly include fish and shellfish in their diets. However, it's important to remember that women of childbearing age should restrict their intake of fish that have high mercury content (e.g., shark, swordfish, mackerel).

— Marian C. Limacher, MD

Published in Journal Watch Women's Health June 17, 2003

Citation(s):

Hu FB et al. Fish and long-chain -3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease and total mortality in diabetic women. Circulation 2003 Apr 15; 107:1852-7.

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