Type 2 diabetes: fish oil protects the kidneys

Patients with type 2 diabetes could improve kidney health by supplementing their diet with omega-3 fatty acids found infish oil. A study published in Diabetic Medicine, a journal of the British Diabetic Association, suggests this. Researchers from the Department of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (China) showed that after 12 weeks of fish oil intake, creatinine levels in diabetic patients decreased significantly.

Omega-3 and kidney

The Omega 3 are typical nutrients found in fish that inhabit seas and oceans. Years of studies have shown that fish oil obtained from these species, high in these fatty acids, is a valuable aid to heart health. Increased fish oil consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. It also exerts a significant effect on the imbalance of blood lipid concentrations. Despite this, the effects of fish oil supplements on blood vessel function and metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes have not yet been fully elucidated. However, some studies have strengthened the hypothesis that fish oil supplements rich in Omega-3 have a protective effect toward the kidney of those with type 2 diabetes.

Fish oil or olive oil?

Chinese researchers conducted a controlled study of 97 individuals with type 2 diabetes who had never suffered from cardiovascular disorders. They were assigned to 2 treatment groups:

- 49 of these patients took 4 grams a day of fish oil for 12 weeks;

- Forty-eight individuals took olive oil, which is not rich in Omega-3, for the same period.

The researchers evaluated vascular function before and after taking the 2 types of supplements.

Fish oil improves kidney health in type 2 diabetes

Analyses conducted have shown thatfish oil significantly reduces serumtriglyceride levels in those with type 2 diabetes. However, the authors point out, 12 weeks of treatment is not enough to achieve significant improvement in vascular function. Nevertheless, serum creatine levels, an index of kidney function, were lower in those who had taken fish oil than in those who had supplemented their diets with olive oil. Specifically, taking Omega-3 for 12 weeks reduced creatinine levels by 4.5 micromoles per liter of serum. High creatinine levels are associated with impaired kidney function: therefore, these results indicate that fish oil, taken for 12 weeks, improves kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes.  

Source

1. Wong CY, Yiu KH, Li SW, Lee S, Tam S, Lau CP, Tse HF, "Fish-oil supplement has neutral effects on vascular and metabolic function but improves renal function in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus," Diabet Med. 2010 Jan;27(1):54-60