Fish Oil may Benefit Patients with Kidney Disease

Fish oil first came to the general public’s attention in the 1980’s, when it was reported that the omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may help to prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure. It has been shown in some studies that fish oil help to improve your chances of delaying progression towards end-stage kidney disease over prolonged periods of time.

How fish oil may help boost up health? In the past years, several studies suggest that EPA and DHA from fish oil may help to reduce blood lipids and blood pressure and prevent occurrence of thrombosis. Studies of fish oil on kidney disease patients were also carried out. While some patients may coincidentally notice a reduction in proteinuria, any such reduction due to fish oil will be very mild at best. Fish oil is not prescribed as a means of reducing proteinuria, and it has not been shown to do so at this point. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (high blood pressure medications) are more effective at reducing mild proteinuria, and of course, for heavy proteinuria, nothing is in the same league as prednisone. Fish oil may also lower your blood triglycerides (possibly a desirable effect).

At present, the most recent thinking is that while fish oil may slow progression of the disease at first, it may not do anything in the longer term. This is something that remains to be determined, and prospective studies are continuing. It's also important for patients with IgAN to know that fish oil may not necessarily do anything for them specifically, and that other independent studies have not shown any benefit to taking fish oil supplements.

While the benefits of fish oil have been researched, it is also proven that not everyone can take or tolerate fish oil. Allergic reactions have been reported, and it is not known if this is due to the fish oil itself, or the gelatin capsules they come in. In addition, fish oil may interact with NSAIDs, and suppress the immune system to some extent so it is not advised for people with a suppressed immune system to take large dose of it. Some studies on animal animals have reported that fish oil may increase in the rates of prolonged and difficult labors and an increase in blood loss during labor, so it is not suggested for women in pregnancy to reduce adverse effects.