Aim: To examine the determinants and metabolic impact of the reduction in fasting and postload insulin levels after a low n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio diet in obese youth.
Materials And Methods: Insulin secretion and clearance were assessed by measuring and modelling plasma insulin and C-peptide in 17 obese youth who underwent a nine-point, 180-minute oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and after a 12-week, eucaloric low n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio diet. Hepatic fat content was assessed by repeated abdominal magnetic resonance imaging.
Background: Recent literature suggests that the Western diet's imbalance between high ω-6 (n-6) and low ω-3 (n-3) PUFA intake contributes to fatty liver disease in obese youth.
Objectives: We tested whether 12 wk of a low n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio (4:1) normocaloric diet mitigates fatty liver and whether the patatin-like containing domain phospholipase 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 variant affects the response.
Methods: In a single-arm unblinded study, obese youth 9-19 y of age with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were treated with a normocaloric low n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio diet for 12 wk.