Midtveisevaluering - Linn Anja Vikøren

Abstract: Health effects of regular fish consumption in overweight and obese individuals

Background: Human and animal studies indicate that intake of fish protein holds potential to improve metabolic health. We have previously showed that supplementation of fish protein from cod, without dietary changes, improved glucose metabolism and LDL-cholesterol in overweight individuals.

It is of interest to investigate whether metabolic improvements could be achieved when fish fillets are consumed as part of a regular diet and not as a protein supplement. Also, it is of interest to investigate the potential of lean and fatty fish to improve metabolic health. If fish fillets in the diet can modulate glucose and lipid metabolism, this can be important knowledge for future dietary advice and treatment of co-morbidities related to overweight and obesity.

The aims of this project are to investigate the impact of regular fish consumption in relation to glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and inflammation in overweight and obese humans and rats.

Methods: In this doctoral project two intervention studies are being performed in order to investigate health effects of regular fish consumption. We are conduction a clinical dietary intervention in overweight and obese adults. Here participants consume salmon, cod or meat for dinner three times a week for twelve weeks. Also, we are conducting a dietary intervention in obese Zucker rats, investigating diets containing different amounts of fish fillets as a protein source.

Results: Both intervention studies will be completed during June 2015 and the results are therefore pending.