@article {1291, title = {Plasma omega-3 fatty acids and incident diabetes in older adults.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {94}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Aug}, pages = {527-33}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Although long-chain omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) consumption estimated via food-frequency questionnaires has been associated with a higher incidence of diabetes, limited prospective data on diabetes risk are available that use objective biomarkers of n-3 FAs.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the relation between plasma phospholipid n-3 FAs and incident diabetes.

DESIGN: We prospectively analyzed data in 3088 older men and women (mean age: 75 y) from the Cardiovascular Health Study (1992-2007). Plasma phospholipid n-3 FAs were measured by using gas chromatography, and incident diabetes was ascertained by using information on hypoglycemic agents and serum glucose. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate multivariable-adjusted relative risks.

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 10.6 y, 204 new cases of diabetes occurred. In a multivariable model that controlled for age, sex, race, clinic site, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking, physical activity, LDL cholesterol, and linoleic acid, relative risks (95\% CIs) for diabetes were 1.0 (reference), 0.96 (0.65, 1.43), 1.03 (0.69, 1.54), and 0.64 (0.41, 1.01) across consecutive quartiles of phospholipid eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (P for trend = 0.05). Corresponding relative risks (95\% CIs) for phospholipid α-linolenic acid (ALA) were 1.0 (reference), 0.93 (0.65, 1.34), 0.99 (0.68, 1.44), and 0.57 (0.36, 0.90) (P for trend = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: With the use of objective biomarkers, long-chain n-3 FAs and ALA were not associated with a higher incidence of diabetes. Individuals with the highest concentrations of both types of FAs had lower risk of diabetes.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Diabetes Mellitus, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Humans, Male, Phospholipids, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.3945/ajcn.111.013334}, author = {Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Biggs, Mary L and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Ix, Joachim H and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Siscovick, David S and Mozaffarian, Dariush} }