The effect of n-3 fatty acids on C-reactive protein levels in patients with chronic renal failure.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). C-reactive protein (CRP), a strong independent risk marker of CVD, is elevated in a large proportion of patients with CRF. The long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have cardioprotective effects, which may be partly attributed to their anti-inflammatory properties.


OBJECTIVE
The study objective was to investigate the effect of n-3 PUFA on serum levels of CRP in patients with CRF.


METHODS
We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
The study took place at an outpatients clinic at the Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.


METHODS
The study comprised 46 patients (30 men and 16 women; mean age 59 +/- 11 years) with a serum creatinine level in the range of 150 to 400 micromol/L.


METHODS
The patients were randomly assigned to daily supplementation with 2.4 g n-3 PUFA or identical capsules containing 2.4 g of olive oil (control) for 8 weeks.


METHODS
CRP was measured with a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) assay and the content of n-3 PUFA in granulocyte membranes before and after supplementation.


RESULTS
The n-3 PUFA concentration increased in granulocytes after the n-3 PUFA supplements but was unaltered by the control oil. A nonsignificant reduction in hs-CRP was observed in the n-3 PUFA group after supplementation (2.46 vs. 1.47 mg/L; P = .06), and hs-CRP was unaltered by the control oil (3.27 vs. 3.14 mg/L; P = .12). There was no difference in median hs-CRP change in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A trend was seen toward a reduction in hs-CRP in the n-3 PUFA group, but there was no significant difference in hs-CRP levels when both groups were compared.
Madsen
Trine
T
Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Centre, Aalborg Hospital, Arhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. tmadsen@dadlnet.dk <tmadsen@dadlnet.dk>
Schmidt
Erik B
EB
Christensen
Jeppe H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine