Effect of dietary fish oil on renal function and rejection in cyclosporine-treated recipients of renal transplants.
BACKGROUND
Dietary fish oil exerts effects on renal hemodynamics and the immune response that may benefit renal-transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine. To evaluate this possibility, we studied the effect of fish oil on renal function, blood pressure, and the incidence of acute rejection episodes in cyclosporine-treated recipients of renal transplants.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind trial, 33 recipients of first cadaveric kidney transplants who were treated with cyclosporine and prednisolone ingested 6 g of fish oil daily during the first postoperative year (the fish-oil group), whereas another 33 renal-graft recipients treated with cyclosporine and prednisolone ingested 6 g of coconut oil daily for three months after which time it was stopped (the control group).


RESULTS
One year after transplantation, the fish-oil group had higher median values than the controls for glomerular filtration rate (53 vs. 40 ml per minute per 1.73 m2, P = 0.038) and effective renal plasma flow (214 vs. 178 ml per minute per 1.73 m2, P = 0.023) and lower mean arterial pressure (103 vs. 118 mm Hg, P = 0.0011). The cyclosporine doses in the two groups were similar. The cumulative number of rejection episodes was 20 in the controls, as compared with 8 in the fish-oil group (P = 0.029). One-year graft survival also tended to be better in the fish-oil group, (97 vs. 84 percent, P = 0.097).


CONCLUSIONS
The daily administration of 6 g of fish oil during the first postoperative year has a beneficial effect on renal hemodynamics and blood pressure in renal-transplant recipients treated with cyclosporine. Although the fish-oil group had significantly fewer rejection episodes than the control group, graft survival at one year was not significantly better in the fish-oil group.
van der Heide
J J
JJ
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Bilo
H J
HJ
Donker
J M
JM
Wilmink
J M
JM
Tegzess
A M
AM
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils; D012079:Renal Circulation
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005395:Fish Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000074263:Coconut Oil