The Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation on Lipid Levels in Non-Hemodialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Paul La Bounty
Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
Rodney G. Bowden *
Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
Erika Deike
Texas Lutheran University, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Jennifer J. Moreillon
Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
Jackson O. Griggs
Family Health Center, Waco, TX, USA.
Ronald L. Wilson
Central Texas Nephrology Associates, Waco, TX. USA.
Brian D. Shelmadine
Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a moderate dose of commercially available fish oil on lipid variables in non-hemodialysis, chronic kidney disease patients.
Study Design: The study utilized a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled experimental design. The experimental intervention consisted of fish oil supplementation or a safflower oil control.
Place and Duration of Study: Patients (N=31) from a family medicine center with Chronic Kidney Disease were eligible for the study and followed prospectively for eight weeks.
Results: ANCOVA revealed a significant difference at post-test (p=0.02; Cohen’s d=-0.58) in HDL. No significant differences at post-test for triglycerides (p=0.66; Cohen’s d=0.16), total cholesterol (p=0.84; Cohen’s d=-0.04), LDL (p=0.39; Cohen’s d=0.25), total cholesterol/HDL ratio (p=0.34; Cohen’s d=0.20), and ApoB (p=0.52; Cohen’s d=0.11) were discovered.
Conclusions: The results of our study suggest the consumption of 2.4 grams of combined EPA and DHA may be an effective over-the-counter nutritional intervention to increase HDL in individuals with CKD. The reasons for non-significant findings in all other cholesterol variables may be due to a dose-response relationship, the short duration of the study, the study population, or the supplements simply may not be effective in improving these variables.
Keywords: Cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, triglycerides, omega-3 fatty acids