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BENEFITS OF FISH OIL IN DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY.

Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy have a greatly increased mortality rate, often from coronary artery disease. These investigators in Denmark now report the results of a double- blind crossover study that compared the effects of eight- week regimens of cod-liver oil (rich in n-3 fatty acids) and olive oil (relatively rich in saturated fatty acids) in 18 diabetic patients with albuminuria.

The fish-oil regimen partially reduced the leakage of albumin from the microvasculature and slightly reduced blood pressure. The reduction in albumin leakage was too large to be attributed to the blood pressure reduction and was thus probably a primary effect of the fish oil. Fish oil also significantly lowered levels of VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, and raised HDL-cholesterol levels.

This study provides indirect evidence that fish oil is clinically beneficial in patients with diabetic nephropathy, but long-term studies are needed to confirm this finding. In addition, commercially available cod-liver oil contains amounts of vitamins A and D that are in excess of recommended daily intake; thus, long-term use of cod-liver oil might be detrimental.

— ALK

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine December 15, 1989

Citation(s):

Jensen T et al. Partial normalization by dietary cod-liver oil of increased microvascular albumin leakage in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and albuminuria. N Engl J Med 1989 Dec 7 321 1572-1577.

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