Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improved Arterial Stiffness Parameters in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy

Background and Aims: Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (DCAN) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is among the strongest and independent risk markers for future global and cardiac mortality. Material and Methods: Thirty-six patients suffering from T2D and confirmed DCAN were enrolled in this investigation. Depending on the prescribed therapy, patients were allocated into two groups: group 1 was comprised of 15 patients to whom standard hypoglycemic treatment was prescribed (control group), the second received standard hypoglycemic treatment and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs, n = 21). The duration of the study was three month. Results: In subjects with T2D and DСAN prescription of ω-3 PUFAs was associated with a significant decrease of aorta augmentation index (AIxao), pulse wave velocity (PWV) during the active period of the day and decrease of AIxao, brachial augmentation index and PWV during the passive period of the day compared with the control group. Therefore, three month of ω-3 PUFAs supplementation to patients with confirmed DCAN and T2D promotes to improvement of arterial stiffness indices. Conclusions: In patients with T2D and СAN treatment with ω-3 PUFAs improved arterial stiffness parameters. The effectiveness of ω-3 PUFAs is not connected with optimization of glycemic control, but is rather the result of a direct drug action on the studied parameters.