Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in type 2 diabetes : the lack of a sex / gender approach

Many randomized controlled trials indicate that the supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) patients can lower glucose levels, as well as positively affect cardiometabolic biomarkers. Unfortunately, many of these trials do not take in account sex/gender analysis. We carried out a search in PubMed, aimed at evaluating whether randomized controlled trials on n-3 PUFA supplements in T2D patients have been carried out while taking into account the sex/gender analysis. We showed that much work remains to be done to integrate the sex/gender analysis into trials, especially when a wider knowledge of the influence of sex/ gender on specific metabolic responses could positively affect the effectiveness of the therapy or supplementation, such as in T2D patients.