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Fish oil helps fatty liver and insulin resistance

Omega-3 fatty acids show promise as an add-on therapy for fatty liver and insulin resistance, according to new VA research. (Photo: Getty Images)

Omega-3 fatty acids show promise as an add-on therapy for fatty liver and insulin resistance, according to new VA research. (Photo: Getty Images)

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body makes enough insulin but cannot use it effectively. This results in high blood glucose and lipid levels, contributing factors in the development of diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease.

Researchers at the Iowa VA Medical Center found that a diet enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, from menhaden, improved insulin resistance and reduced fat deposits in the liver of obese and diabetic rats. The investigators also found that those effects did not occur to the same extent in rats given diets enriched with olive oil or safflower oil, which contain different forms of unsaturated fats.

The research suggests that enriching or supplementing the diet with omega-3s may be an effective way to help ward off the development of these common chronic diseases, without the risk of adverse side effects or drug interactions. (Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, February 2013)