Research concerning kidney dialysis and fish oil supplements indicates that many dialysis patients are not eating enough fish. The primary dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fish. Omega 3s are important for heart and brain health. Research conducted at the Indiana University School of Medicine indicates that patients receiving dialysis may not be eating enough fish.
The study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases in May of 2006, focused on the diets of 75 long-term dialysis patients. Of the 75, 65% did not meet the American Heart Association's fish-consumption guidelines for healthy persons, which is simply to eat fish at least twice a week. Research has shown that eating fish, the best known sources of omega-3 fatty acids, may lower the risk of death from coronary artery disease, commonly referred to as "heart disease".
Heart Health
Patients receiving dialysis have an increased risk of developing heart disease. Researchers hope that they can reduce this risk by encouraging dialysis patients to consume more fish.
Questions related to dialysis and fish oil supplements were not specifically addressed by the researchers at Indiana U, but researchers at the Tor Vergata University in Rome conducted a study using omega-3 fish oil supplements and vitamin E. They believe that the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of these supplements may help protect the blood cells of dialysis patients from oxidative stress, possibly increasing the person's lifespan.
Numerous health benefits have been associated with omega-3 fatty acids. Initially scientists, doctors and researchers noticed that the prevalence of heart disease was much lower in cultures with a fish-based diet, particularly fatty fish.
Too much fat in the diet has long been associated with an increased risk for heart disease and most experts recommend limiting the number of calories from fat to 30% of the total caloric intake. However, all fat is not the same.
Some fats are good for the body, help reduce inflammation and actually clean out the arteries. These fats are also needed for optimal brain function. 50% of the brain's weight is fat. A full one third of the brain's mass is long chain omega-3 fat. It is easy to see how a diet that does not constantly replenish these types of fat can inhibit the function of the brain. In the arteries of the heart, these long chain fats actually help remove the artery clogging plaque that is the primary cause of coronary artery or heart disease.
On the other hand, some fats are bad for the body. These are the artery clogging fats that increase blood pressure, body weight and inflammation. Recent research indicates that chronic inflammation may lead to all types of cancer. The bottom line is that "bad" fats may cause heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer. While the "good" fats may prevent heart disease, reduce the risk of cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, aging, memory loss, depression and many other chronic and life-threatening health conditions.
The sources of omega-3 fatty acids or "good" fat include olive oil, almonds, avocados and fish oil. Bad fat comes from red meat, egg yolks, processed foods, liver and other organ meats. Good fats are monunsaturated. Bad fats are saturated.
Some experts recommend as much as 5 grams of fish oil per day, even if a person eats fish two or three times per week. Because of mercury contamination and other pollutants in fish, most experts do not recommend eating certain types of fish more than twice a week. The recommendations for certain types of fish, particularly those that swim in the Atlantic Ocean, is even lower.
Those persons under a doctor's care should consult their physicians before adding fish oil to their diets. Certain conditions can be aggravated by omega-3 fatty acids. For more information about dialysis and fish oil supplements or for information about sources of omega-3 fatty acids, please visit the Fish Oil Guide, your guide to the best fish oil dietary supplements.
