Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Lipid Levels in Endstage Renal Disease Patients

Objective

Our purpose was to determine if over-the-counter fish oil improves the cardiovascular-disease risk profile of endstage renal disease patients.

Design

This study used a double-blind, permuted-block, randomized, placebo-controlled design. The experimental intervention consisted of fish-oil concentrate supplementation, whereas corn-oil capsules were used as a control. Compliance follow-ups were performed 3 times per week.

Setting

Patients of Central Texas Nephrology Associates clinics were eligible for this study.

Patients

Exclusion criteria comprised a life-expectancy of less than 6 months, pregnancy, a history of hemodialysis or medication noncompliance, or age below 18 years. The final sample size was 87 patients. The attrition rate was 9%.

Intervention

Participants in the experimental group consumed six 1-g soft-gel capsules of fish-oil concentrate each day for 6 months. The control group consumed corn-oil capsules, following the same protocol. Venous blood samples were acquired before and after the intervention.

Main Outcome Measure

We assessed a number of serum lipid indicators.

Results

There were significant supplement/time interactions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels (P = .0001) and LDL particle number (P = .0001). Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant time trends in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .012) and LDL (P = .001). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly decreased in the control group, and increased in the fish-oil group, at 6 months, and LDL levels increased significantly in both groups.

Conclusions

The analysis indicates mixed results with respect to cardiovascular disease risk. Further research is needed to assess the benefits of an over-the-counter fish-oil supplement in the renal population.