Effects of Fish Oil in Treating IgA Nephropathy

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can be found on animal cell membrane and it has important physiological functions. Human being lack the ability of synthetizing PUFA and the ability will be further weakened in case of illness, therefore fish oil is needed to supply PUFA.

PUFA includes n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid which includes EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexenoic acid). EPA and DHA have the functions of lowering hematic fat, lowering blood pressure and preventing the formation of blood clots. The intake of large amount of fish oil can help relieve proteinuria in FSGS and MN, so it has obvious curative effects on IgA nephropathy and other immune system diseases.

EPA can help remove cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood and DHA has the function of softening blood vessels so that they can lower blood cholesterol and trigyceride, clear blood stasis and promote microcirculation. This can help improve hypoxia and ischemia in the kidneys and provide enough blood, oxgen and necessary nutrition for repairing damaged renal cells and tissues.

Fish oil has the functions of anti-inflamation by reducing the inflammatory mediators.

The most important is that EPA and DHA can to a certain degree inhibit the proliferation of glomerular cells and reduce the deposition of IgA in the mesangial areas. They can maintain the cytomembrane activities and ensure the normal functions of renal mesangial cells, epithelial cells and endothelial cells, etc.

Compared with hormones, the side effects of fish oil is much fewer and only very few patients have discomfort reaction. Hormone therapy has obvious curative effects in the short term, however the effect is not so satisfying in the long run. The recurrent rate is high especially in case of upper respiratory tract infection, IgA is easy to relapse and each recur will worsen the illness condition and make it harder to cure.

At present the study on IgA focuses on how to recover renal functions so that the repaired kidneys can have the ability to remove immune complex and prevent its deposition. It has been found in studies that fish oil has maintenance function for IgA patients.