Journal article
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pre-Clinical Study Examining the Effect of Omega-3 PUFAs from Fish Oil, Krill Oil, Algae or Pharmaceutical-derived Ethyl Esters Using Type 2 Diabetic Rats
Biomedicines, Vol.13(7), 1607
06/30/2025
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13071607
PMCID: PMC12292556
PMID: 40722680
Abstract
Background and Objectives: We have previously reported that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from fish oil (FO) is an effective treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes neural and vascular complications. As omega-3 PUFAs become more widely used as a nutritional and disease modifying supplement an important question to be addressed is what is the preferred source of omega-3 PUFAs? Methods: Using a type 2 diabetic rat model and early and late intervention protocols we examined the effect of dietary treatment with omega-3 PUFAs derived from menhaden (fish) oil (MO), krill oil (KO), algal oils consisting primarily of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or combination of EPA + DHA, or pharmaceutical-derived ethyl esters of EPA, DHA or combination of EPA + DHA. Nerve related endpoints included motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, heat sensitivity of the hind paw, intraepidermal nerve density, cornea nerve fiber length, and cornea sensitivity. Vascular reactivity to acetylcholine and calcitonin gene-related peptide by epineurial arterioles that provide blood to the sciatic nerve was also examined. Results: The dose of each omega-3 PUFA supplement increased the content of EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and/or DHA in red blood cell membranes, serum and liver. Diabetes caused a significant decrease of 30–50% of neural function and fiber occupancy of the skin and cornea and vascular reactivity. Treatment with MO, KO or the combination of EPA + DHA provided through algal oil or ethyl esters provided significant improvement of each neural endpoint and vascular function. Algal oil or ethyl ester of EPA alone was the least effective with algal oil or ethyl ester of DHA alone providing benefit that approached combination therapies for some endpoints. Conclusions: We confirm that omega-3 PUFAs are an effective treatment for DPN and sources other than fish oil are similarly effective.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pre-Clinical Study Examining the Effect of Omega-3 PUFAs from Fish Oil, Krill Oil, Algae or Pharmaceutical-derived Ethyl Esters Using Type 2 Diabetic Rats
- Creators
- Eric Davidson - University of IowaOleksandr Obrosov - University of IowaLawrence Coppey - University of IowaMark Yorek - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biomedicines, Vol.13(7), 1607
- DOI
- 10.3390/biomedicines13071607
- PMID
- 40722680
- PMCID
- PMC12292556
- NLM abbreviation
- Biomedicines
- ISSN
- 2227-9059
- eISSN
- 2227-9059
- Publisher
- MDPI; BASEL
- Grant note
- Department of Veterans Affairs: RX003826 Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Rehabilitation Research and Development: C9251-C Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Iowa City VA Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss: 126837 National Institutes of Health DK
This material is based upon work supported in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Rehabilitation Research and Development (RX003826; MY), Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Iowa City VA Center of Excellence for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss: C9251-C and National Institutes of Health DK 126837. The content of this manuscript is new and solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the granting agencies.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/30/2025
- Academic Unit
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Endocrinology and Metabolism; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984843599002771
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