Calanus Oil and Lifestyle Interventions Improve Glucose Homeostasis in Obese Subjects with Insulin Resistance

authored by

Felix Kerlikowsky, Madeline Bartsch, Wiebke Jonas, Andreas Hahn, Jan Philipp Schuchardt

Abstract

Obesity increases the risk for insulin resistance (IR) and type-2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions (LI) and dietary supplementation can help mitigate IR. We investigated the effect of calanus oil (CO) supplementation, combined with LI, on glucose homeostasis in obese subjects. CO, a novel marine oil, contains omega-3 fatty acid wax esters as well as plant sterols and astaxanthin. In the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 12-week intervention study, 266 subjects with distinct IR phenotypes were assigned to four groups: 2 g CO/day, 4 g CO/day, 2 g CO/day + LI, and placebo. The effect of CO on HOMA index reduction was influenced by the initial (t

0) squared HOMA index (interaction

p = 0.011). A post hoc test showed significant improvement with 2 g CO/day + LI (estimated marginal means [EMM] 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.19 [-0.80-0.41],

p = 0.021). Secondary analysis revealed that 4 g CO/day had significant effects in subjects with mild IR (HOMA index 2.5-5.0) (EMM [95% CI]: -0.76 [-1.53-0.03],

p = 0.043). CO supplementation improved glucose homeostasis, with effects varying by dose, combination with LI, and IR phenotype.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Nutrition Physiology and Human Nutrition Section
Institute of Food and One Health

External Organisation(s)

Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences

Type

Article

Journal

Marine drugs

Volume

ISSN

1660-3397

Publication date

23.03.2025

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 14 - Life Below Water

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.3390/md23040139 (Access: Open)