Glucose intolerance associated to insulin resistance and increased insulin secretion in rats depleted in long-chain ω3 fatty acids

An intragastric D-glucose tolerance test was performed, after overnight starvation, in female rats depleted in long-chain polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids (omega AD rats) and control rats of same age and gender. The plasma D-glucose and insulin concentrations, insulinogenic index, and HOMA for insulin resistance were all higher, after overnight starvation, in omega 3D rats than in control animals. Over the 120-minute period following the intragastric administration of D-glucose, the area under the curve for the same four variables was also higher in omega 3D) rats than in control animals. In addition to visceral obesity, liver steatosis, hypertension, and cardiac hypertrophy, the omega 3D rats thus display further features of the metabolic syndrome, namely glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, despite hyperinsulinemia.