| Abstract | dc.description.abstract | Recent evidence shows that specific fatty acids affect cell metabolism, modifying the balance between fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis. These
effects may have important implications in addressing the present epidemic of nutrition-related chronic disease. Intake of dietary saturated and n-6
PUFA have increased while n-3 fatty acid intake has decreased. Obesity, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance are highly prevalent, and both are
strongly related to disorders of lipid metabolism characterized by an increased plasma and intracellular fatty acid availability. Thus, it has been
hypothesized that change in the quality of dietary fat supply is able to modify the degree of insulin sensitivity. Animal studies provide support for
this notion. However, there is limited human data either from normal or diabetic subjects. This review aims to analyse human studies that address
this question. To this purpose, the experimental design, dietary compliance, insulin-sensitivity method used and confounding variables are
discussed in order to identify the role of dietary fat quality as a risk factor for insulin resistance. Most studies (twelve of fifteen) found no
effect relating to fat quality on insulin sensitivity. However, multiple study design flaws limit the validity of this conclusion. In contrast, one
of the better designed studies found that consumption of a high-saturated-fat diet decreased insulin sensitivity in comparison to a high-monounsaturated-
fat diet. We conclude that the role of dietary fat quality on insulin sensitivity in human subjects should be further studied, using experimental
designs that address the limitations of existing data sets. | en_US |
