Effect of Fish Oil on Oxidative Stress, Lipid Profile and
Renal Function in lgA Nephropathy
URAIW AN PARINY ASIRI, MD*, LEENA ONG-AJYOOTH, MD*,
PAISAL PARICHATIKANOND, MD**, SOMPONG ONG-AJYOOTH, MS***,
SOMPONG LIAMMONGKOLKUL, MS***, SURIN KANYOG, MS***
Affiliation : * Renal Unit, Department of Medicine,
** Department of Pathology,
***Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
AbstractThe omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to produce beneficial
effects, such as a reduction in blood pressure, proteinuria, lipid levels and inflammation. Aggregated
immunoglobulin A obtained from lgA nephropathy patients induced greater oxygen free radicals in
polymorphonuclear leukocytes than other glomerulopathy. All of which may affect the course of lgA
nephropathy.
Twenty-three adult patients with biopsy proven lgA nephropathy, with proteinuria more than
I g/day, serum creatinine less than 3 mg/dl and blood pressure control less than 130/80 mmHg were
given omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the form of an Omaco~ capsule 4 g/day equi
valent to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 1.88 g and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 1.48 g for 6 months. A
3 to 6 month follow-up was planned, with monthly evaluations of the patients.
By six months, the serum triglyceride was significantly reduced ( 143.45 ± 62.65 vs 91 ± 42.89
=
mg/dl, p 0.002), serum cholesterol was also reduced but not statistically significant (234.16 ± 56.29 vs
=
219.76 ± 51.25 mg/dl, p 0.07). There was a trend of increased serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol (39.26 ± 10.56 vs 42.72 ± 8.37 mg/dl, p = 0.056). Urine beta-2·microglobulin was elevated
in IgA patients and decreased statistically significant after 3 months (453 ± 580 vs 308 ± 274 )lg/24 h,
p < 0.001) and 6 months offish oil therapy (453 ± 580 vs 142 ± 182, p < 0.03) while urine N-acetyl
glucosaminidase (NAG) was of no significant difference both before and after fish oil administration
=
(21 ± 10 vs 22 ± 10 and 21 ± 9 U/24 h, p 0.08). Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), the end product of
=
oxidative stress was statistically, significantly decreased (1.09 ± 0.51 vs 0.89 ± 0.49 nmol/L, p 0.003).
The study did not show any change in blood pressure, proteinuria, or serum creatinine.
The authors conclude from the results of this study that patients with idiopathic lgA nephro
pathy with proteinuria and mildly reduced GFR did not benefit from short-term treatment with 4 g per
day of omega-3 PUFA regarding the total protein excretion and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), but
the advantage was the improvement in tubular dysfunction, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress.
Keywords : Fish Oil, Oxidative Stress, lgA Nephropathy
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