Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is often linked with hyperglycemia, disturbed lipid profiles, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has a vital role in the management of T2DM. As a result, a better understanding of the potential role of omega-3 fatty acids in the development and progression of T2DM by influencing the intestinal microflora will help to improve the therapeutic intervention for T2DM and related complications. Focusing on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways induced by omega-3 fatty acids, this paper attempts to comprehensively review and discuss the putative associations between omega-3 fatty acids, gut dysbiosis, and the pathophysiology of T2DM and its related comorbidities. In addition, we contemplate the importance of gut microbiota in T2DM prevention and treatment and ponder the role of omega-3 fatty acids in T2DM by positively modulating gut microbiota, which may lead to discovery of novel targets and therapeutic strategies thereby paving way for further comprehensive, mechanistic, and clinical studies.
Keywords: alpha-linolenic acid; diabetes mellitus; docosahexaenoic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid; gut; microbiota; omega-3 fatty acids.