various effects of omega 3 and omega 3 plus vitamin e supplementations on serum glucose level and insulin resistance in patients with coronary artery disease

background: omega 3 and vitamin e are two critical nutrients which include beneficial effects in coronary artery disease (cad). the aim of this study was to assess the effects of omega 3 alone supplementation or in combination with vitamin e on serum glucose and lipid levels and insulin resistance in cad patients. methods: participants of this clinical trial included 60 male patients with cad who selected from tehran heart center in tehran, iran in 2014. they received 4 g/day omega 3 plus 400 iu/day vitamin e (oe), 4 g/day omega 3 with vitamin e placebo (op), or omega 3 and vitamin e placebo (pp) for two months. serum glucose, lipids and insulin were assessed and homa-ir was calculated before and after the trial and effects of these nutrients on the highlighted parameters were compared within the study groups. results: serum glucose level increased significantly in op group ( p =0.004), but not in oe group. oe and op groups showed a significant decrease in fasting serum tg ( p =0.020 and p =0.001, respectively). serum insulin and homa-ir decreased significantly in oe group ( p =0.044 and p =0.039, respectively) but did not change significantly in op group. conclusion: although, omega 3 supplementation may include adverse effects on serum glucose level, co-administration of omega 3 and vitamin e can beneficially decrease serum insulin and insulin resistance in cad patients.