Abstract
Background. We previously reported that haemodialysis patients have suboptimal blood levels of the cardioprotective omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. In the present pilot study, we tested the hypothesis that supplementing haemodialysis patients for 12 weeks with the American Heart Association (AHA)-recommended fish oil dose would be well tolerated and efficacious in boosting blood n-3 PUFA levels and improving cardiovascular risk biomarkers. Methods. Twenty-seven subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either 1.3 g of EPA + DHA daily or placebo. Results. At baseline, 83% of subjects consumed inadequate dietary fish and had the following erythrocyte n-3 PUFA levels (mean ± SD,% weight) - EPA: 0.3 ± 0.2, DHA: 2.9 ± 2.0, and ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA: 4.2 ± 1.3. Supplementation induced large increases in mean blood EPA and DHA levels (% increase, P-value vs placebo group): erythrocyte - EPA: +400%, P = 0.0018, DHA: +205%, P < 0.0001; plasma - EPA: +275%, P = 0.0003, DHA: +69%, P = 0.0352. Levels in the placebo group remained relatively unchanged. The omega-3 index, a value correlating with the level of cardioprotection, increased significantly in the fish oil group. A reduction in mean C-reactive protein levels (-3.3 ± 8.1 mg/l, P = 0.0282) and a trend towards lower triglyceride levels (-24 ± 74 mg/dl, P = 0.0783) were also observed in the active vs placebo group. Minimal side effects were noted. Conclusions. Our preliminary observations that the AHA-recommended fish oil dose is well tolerated, efficacious and may improve surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in haemodialysis patients paves the way for larger clinical trials to confirm a clinical benefit.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3561-3567 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2007 |
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Keywords
- C-reactive protein
- Fish oil
- Haemodialysis
- n-3
- Omega-3
- Triglyceride
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nephrology
- Transplantation
Cite this
Oral fish oil supplementation raises blood omega-3 levels and lowers C-reactive protein in haemodialysis patients - A pilot study. / Saifullah, Akber; Watkins, Bruce A.; Saha, Chandan; Li, Yong; Moe, Sharon; Friedman, Allon.
In: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol. 22, No. 12, 12.2007, p. 3561-3567.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Oral fish oil supplementation raises blood omega-3 levels and lowers C-reactive protein in haemodialysis patients - A pilot study
AU - Saifullah, Akber
AU - Watkins, Bruce A.
AU - Saha, Chandan
AU - Li, Yong
AU - Moe, Sharon
AU - Friedman, Allon
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - Background. We previously reported that haemodialysis patients have suboptimal blood levels of the cardioprotective omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. In the present pilot study, we tested the hypothesis that supplementing haemodialysis patients for 12 weeks with the American Heart Association (AHA)-recommended fish oil dose would be well tolerated and efficacious in boosting blood n-3 PUFA levels and improving cardiovascular risk biomarkers. Methods. Twenty-seven subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either 1.3 g of EPA + DHA daily or placebo. Results. At baseline, 83% of subjects consumed inadequate dietary fish and had the following erythrocyte n-3 PUFA levels (mean ± SD,% weight) - EPA: 0.3 ± 0.2, DHA: 2.9 ± 2.0, and ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA: 4.2 ± 1.3. Supplementation induced large increases in mean blood EPA and DHA levels (% increase, P-value vs placebo group): erythrocyte - EPA: +400%, P = 0.0018, DHA: +205%, P < 0.0001; plasma - EPA: +275%, P = 0.0003, DHA: +69%, P = 0.0352. Levels in the placebo group remained relatively unchanged. The omega-3 index, a value correlating with the level of cardioprotection, increased significantly in the fish oil group. A reduction in mean C-reactive protein levels (-3.3 ± 8.1 mg/l, P = 0.0282) and a trend towards lower triglyceride levels (-24 ± 74 mg/dl, P = 0.0783) were also observed in the active vs placebo group. Minimal side effects were noted. Conclusions. Our preliminary observations that the AHA-recommended fish oil dose is well tolerated, efficacious and may improve surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in haemodialysis patients paves the way for larger clinical trials to confirm a clinical benefit.
AB - Background. We previously reported that haemodialysis patients have suboptimal blood levels of the cardioprotective omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. In the present pilot study, we tested the hypothesis that supplementing haemodialysis patients for 12 weeks with the American Heart Association (AHA)-recommended fish oil dose would be well tolerated and efficacious in boosting blood n-3 PUFA levels and improving cardiovascular risk biomarkers. Methods. Twenty-seven subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either 1.3 g of EPA + DHA daily or placebo. Results. At baseline, 83% of subjects consumed inadequate dietary fish and had the following erythrocyte n-3 PUFA levels (mean ± SD,% weight) - EPA: 0.3 ± 0.2, DHA: 2.9 ± 2.0, and ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA: 4.2 ± 1.3. Supplementation induced large increases in mean blood EPA and DHA levels (% increase, P-value vs placebo group): erythrocyte - EPA: +400%, P = 0.0018, DHA: +205%, P < 0.0001; plasma - EPA: +275%, P = 0.0003, DHA: +69%, P = 0.0352. Levels in the placebo group remained relatively unchanged. The omega-3 index, a value correlating with the level of cardioprotection, increased significantly in the fish oil group. A reduction in mean C-reactive protein levels (-3.3 ± 8.1 mg/l, P = 0.0282) and a trend towards lower triglyceride levels (-24 ± 74 mg/dl, P = 0.0783) were also observed in the active vs placebo group. Minimal side effects were noted. Conclusions. Our preliminary observations that the AHA-recommended fish oil dose is well tolerated, efficacious and may improve surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease in haemodialysis patients paves the way for larger clinical trials to confirm a clinical benefit.
KW - C-reactive protein
KW - Fish oil
KW - Haemodialysis
KW - n-3
KW - Omega-3
KW - Triglyceride
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36749089036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=36749089036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ndt/gfm422
DO - 10.1093/ndt/gfm422
M3 - Article
C2 - 17623719
AN - SCOPUS:36749089036
VL - 22
SP - 3561
EP - 3567
JO - Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
JF - Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
SN - 0931-0509
IS - 12
ER -