Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on lipids and glycemic control in type II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome and on inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteoporosis.

The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on 1) total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance in type-II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, 2) clinical score, sigmoidoscopic score, histologic score and requirement for immunosuppressive therapy in IBD, 3) pain, swollen and tender joint counts, acute phase reactants, patient global assessment, and requirement for anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapy in rheumatoid arthritis, 4) renal function, progression to end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis graft patency, mortality, and requirement for immunosuppressive therapy in renal disease, 5) disease activity, damage, patient's perception of disease activity, and requirement for immunosuppressive therapy in SLE, and 6) bone mineral density and fracture rates.