Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum lipids, lipoprotein (a), and hematologic factors in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND

Lipid abnormalities, especially high serum lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] concentration, and anemia are two major causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids on serum lipids, Lp (a), and hematologic factors in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Thirty-four hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to either omega-3 fatty acid supplement or placebo group. Patients in the omega-3 fatty acids group received 2080 mg marine omega-3 fatty acids, daily for 10 weeks, whereas the placebo group received a corresponding placebo. At baseline and the end of week 10, 7 mL blood was collected after a 12- to 14-h fast and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Lp (a), blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBCs), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured.

RESULTS

Serum triglyceride decreased significantly in the omega-3 fatty acids group at the end of week 10 compared with baseline (p < 0.05) and this reduction was significant in comparison with the placebo group (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in mean changes of serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, Lp (a), blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study indicate that marine omega-3 fatty acids can reduce serum triglyceride, as a risk factor for CVD, but it does not affect other serum lipids, Lp (a), and hematologic factors in hemodialysis patients.