Fish Oils May Assist In Managing Diabetes

Study Reveals Fish Oils May Assist In Managing Diabetes

17% of all deaths annually in New Zealand are caused by diabetes and according to the Ministry of Health the number is set to increase. By 2020 it is estimated that 1 in 6 Maori and Pacific Islanders will be diagnosed with diabetes, but according to a study, fish oils may hold the key to managing diabetes.

In July 2009 a study was conducted on 35 obese or overweight adults. They were given a daily dose of 2000mg of omega-3 fish oil EPA and DHA for a period of three months. They were told to carry on as usual, to do what they want and not to change their regular diet.

After three months the results were amazing - the concentration levels of adiponectin, the sugar-burning hormone that modulates glucose (sugar) usage and fat storage, had increased by 44%. Higher adiponectin levels are associated with lowering the risk of Type 2 diabetes across a diverse population.

Stuart Tomc, Nordic Naturals Educator, said: “Diabetes is caused by having too much glucose (or sugar) in the blood. This happens because the pancreas cannot make enough insulin. 85% of people with Type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight, that combined with physical inactivity, genetics and the western diet are all contributing factors.

“The research shows that Omega-3, EPA and DHA contribute to decreasing the burden of obesity by turning on genes for sugar-burning and fat balance. When this hormone is ‘switched on’ it can crank up the metabolic rate while not affecting appetite,” said Tomc.

There are approximately 157,000 Kiwis with diagnosed diabetes and a further 80,000 not yet diagnosed. The number of people with diabetes is expected to increase 3-4% per year. New Zealand is not facing the Diabetes problem alone, there is a huge worldwide problem with projections suggesting that in the next 20 years diabetes will become one of the most common disease in the world with half a billion people affected. Many governments and companies are investing in significant research and development to find a solution to slow the growing rate.

© Scoop Media