ORLANDO, Fla.—Increasing dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids doesn't lower the risk of heart disease in women with type 1 diabetes, according to a new study presented June 25 at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health studied data from 601 men and women enrolled in the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study, a long-term prospective examination of childhood onset type 1 diabetes that began in 1986. Participants were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 1950 and 1980.
As reported by HealthDay, 166 participants were diagnosed with heart disease during the study. Investigators found the lowest incidence of heart disease among men who consumed the highest amounts of omega-3 (more than 0.2 g/d). However, lower rates of heart disease were not found among women who consumed similar amounts of omega-3.
