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Abstract: SA-PO808

The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Proteinuria Among Diabetic Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Session Information

Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

  • 1300 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Authors

  • Chewcharat, Api, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Chewcharat, Pol, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Rutirapong, Anawin, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Papatheodorou, Stefania, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Background

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) have been the focus of experimental studies in humans. There are clinical trials studying in various types of kidney diseases including IgA nephropathy and lupus nephritis. However, the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on diabetic kidney disease have not been studied adequately.

Methods

We conducted electronic searches in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1960 to April 2019 to identify RCTs, which examined the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on proteinuria, eGFR and metabolic biomarkers among diabetic patients.

Results

Ten RCTs with 344 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Omega-3 fatty acids reduced the progression of proteinuria among type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM). This association was only significant among type 2 DM (SMD = -0.29 (95% CI: -0.54, -0.03; p = 0.03). Only studies with duration of intervention of 24 weeks or longer demonstrated a significant decline in proteinuria comparing omega-3 fatty acids to placebo group (SMD = -0.30 (95% CI: -0.58, -0.02; p = 0.04). There was a slower decline in eGFR for both type 1 and type 2 DM groups, however, the effect was not statistically significant. Regarding, serum LDL-cholesterol and HbA1C, there was no significant difference comparing omega-3 fatty acids to placebo group. There was a non-significant systolic blood pressure reduction in the omega-3 fatty acids supplementation group compared to placebo.

Conclusion

Omega-3 fatty acids could help diminish proteinuria among type 2 DM who received omega-3 supplementation for at least 24 weeks without adverse effects on HbA1C and serum LDL-cholesterol.