In this study, the goal was to focus on the metabolic and physiological changes in body of older adults that often is the result of change in dietary pattern like avoidance of certain foods, chewing ability, change in taste, digestion problem, mood changes, physical activity levels, reduced uptake of glucose due to insulin resistance. This contributes directly and significantly in development of diabetes due to hyperglycemia-like conditions in the body shown as its diagnostic symptoms of retinopathy and neuropathy. All this heightens the risk of developing Cardiovascular disease by contributing to cardiometabolic disorders along with causing severe damage in other vital organs like kidney and liver. Statistics show that almost 70% of older adults of age above 65 have these risk factors already. Enhanced tendency of heart related issues that may end up as stroke, myocardial infarction to name a few, is a direct impact to elevated hospital risk and mortality risk. In Italy alone diabetes-related complications (hospital admissions, medications, and outpatient care) generate costs of approximately €9 billion annually .
Scientist devised that the age related risk factors can be reduced on a certain level by consumption of healthy food items like those rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. These include vegetarian sources-spinach, flax seed, chia seed, soyabean, walnut and non vegetarian sources- mackerel and salmon. Other health benefits of consumption of PUFAs that include omega 3 and omega 6 rich food items are- regulation of triglycerides and cholesterol levels that have in turn cardioprotective effect. It can help in preventing dementia or Alzheimer's or related neural problems in elderly. These unsaturated fatty acids cause improvement in sperm quality preventing the development of idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. They are essential in cell signaling and overall development of the body.
Previous studies have failed to observe a clear association among the two factors that is PUFAs’ consumption and onset of diabetes. They got contradicting results as per the scope of each study which either had a small cohort of participants, a narrow age group or other factors like one type of diet, young adults that had almost no risk of diabetes . Study by Hu. M. et.al.(1) showed that there is a positive correlation among the factors but the research was restricted to the Asian population only. However there are very few studies examining Mediterranean diet and population and no study was included in the pooled analysis of recent systematic review and meta analysis. Even Though it has been well known that Mediterranean diet is already consisting of around 35% of grains, 30% vegetables and fruits,a 20% of fishes and poultry, around 10% of olive oil , that makes people living in Mediterranean countries, such as Italians, consuming a moderate-to-high omega-3 PUFAs rich diet. Furthermore just a few investigations have examined samples composed exclusively of older adults.
Methodology:
The study design includes cross-sectional study of 4461 older adults taken from ongoing Longevity Check-up 8+ project database wherein the adults should be of normal BMI , age 65 years and older . The data collection was done by obtaining information on participant’s lifestyle habits that includes health conditions taken by blood pressure measurements, blood glucose levels, total cholesterol levels, smoking behaviour, physical activity level, along with dietary pattern of the participant. Statistical analysis was done by comparing two of the variables each time and checking the association.
Results:
The final results showed that the participants had almost 21% prevalence of hypertension, 15.5% diabetes and 15.5% obesity. People having higher dietary intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA) and combined EPA & DHA, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) , Omega 6 fatty acids causes reduced blood glucose levels and hence low diabetes prevalence (p value range of 0.001-0.0014) . Omega 6 and ALA consumption reduced systolic blood pressure significantly by p value of 0.001. Hypertension level had less significant relation of negative association with high PUFA consumption.
Conclusion:
The data concludes that increased consumption of PUFAs specifically EPA and DHA can significantly reduce blood glucose level in participants and hence help to regulate diabetes. Dietary patterns of elderly must be a combined average of adequate levels of calories, protein, micronutrients, omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids that include ALA, EPA and DHA. This may help in improving cardiometabolic health by reducing blood glucose levels, insulin resistance and prevalence of risk factors like diabetes as well as reducing the severity of damage in other vital organs of the human body that include kidney, heart and liver. Omega 3 inhibits TLR4 pathway that helps to enhance uptake of glucose as well as treating insulin sensitivity and increase expression of proteins involved in signalling pathways of insulin such as insulin receptor and GLUT4. Omega 3 and 6 supplements in the form of capsules are being consumed religiously by people who are now aware of its benefits but more awareness is to be done.
Impact of the research:
Consumption of PUFAs in diet on a daily basis has a direct consequence of better cardiometabolic health. More research has to be done in the cardiometabolic benefits of omega 3. This study helps to shed light on this area of research but a direct mechanism of action has to be yet devised properly for future benefits to be discovered. Limited time for this study can be improved by providing more time as well as including more tests like the HbA1c test for better results.
Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, aging, diabetes, PUFA consumption, Omega 3, Mediterranean diet
References-
Hu, M., Fang, Z., Zhang, T. et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes in adults: a dose response meta-analysis of cohort studies. Diabetol Metab Syndr 14, 34 (2022)
Coelho-Júnior, Hélio José, et al. "Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Is Associated with Blood Glucose and Diabetes in Community-Dwelling Older Adults." Nutrients 16.23 (2024): 4087.