Type 2 Diabetes: Fish Oil Protects the Kidneys

Patients with type 2 diabetes may improve kidney health by adding Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to their diet. This is suggested by a study published in Diabetic Medicine, the journal of the British Diabetic Association. Researchers from the Department of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (China) demonstrated that after 12 weeks of fish oil supplementation, creatinine levels in diabetic patients decreased significantly.

Omega-3 and the kidney

Omega 3 are nutrients typical of fish living in seas and oceans. Years of studies have shown that fish oil derived from these species, rich in these fatty acids, is a valuable aid for heart health. Higher fish oil consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. It also has a significant effect on imbalanced blood lipid concentrations. However, the effects of fish oil supplements on vascular function and metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes have not yet been fully clarified. Nevertheless, some studies have reinforced the hypothesis that fish oil supplements rich in Omega-3 have a protective effect on the kidneys of people with type 2 diabetes.

Fish oil or olive oil?

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

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

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

Researchers evaluated vascular function before and after supplementation with the two types of oils.

Fish oil improves kidney health in type 2 diabetes

Analyses showed that fish oil significantly reduces triglyceride levels in the serum of type 2 diabetes patients. However, the authors note that 12 weeks of treatment were insufficient to achieve significant improvement in vascular functions. Nevertheless, serum creatinine levels, an indicator of kidney function, were lower in those who took fish oil compared to those who supplemented with olive oil. In particular, Omega-3 supplementation for 12 weeks reduced creatinine levels by 4.5 micromoles per liter of serum. High creatinine levels are associated with kidney function damage, so 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