title: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on lipid profiles in dialysis patients: meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies of omega-3 supplementation in dialysis patients describe salutary effects on lipid profiles. However, study results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of omega-3 supplementation on serum lipids in chronic dialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was performed to identify the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of omega-3 supplementation on dialysis patients. The outcomes included the levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and albumin. Mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and heterogeneity was assessed with the I(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 678 patients from 14 trials were subjected to meta-analysis. Omega-3 supplementation could significantly decrease the levels of TG (MD, -34.8 mg/dL; 95% CI, -62.32 to -7.28) and LDL (MD, -7.15 mg/dL; 95% CI, -10.11 to -4.2). However, no statistically significant effects were observed for TC, HDL and albumin levels. In a subgroup meta-analysis, a statistically significant effect of omega-3 consumption on TG and LDL was observed in a short-term interventional duration and hemodialysis populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that omega-3 supplementation significantly reduced serum TG and LDL level in dialysis patients. However, there is no conclusive evidence that it can modulate the TC, HDL and albumin level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Honggang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Haohai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xuebao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Gaozhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China; Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: solar1168@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Dialysis; Lipid; Meta-analysis; Omega-3