NDT Advance Access originally published online on March 27, 2008
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2008 23(9):2847-2852; doi:10.1093/ndt/gfn144
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The effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on renal function and volume in patients with ADPKD
1 Department of Urology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka 2 Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine 3 Department of Nephrology, Jikei Medical University 4 Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Women Medical University, Tokyo 5 Division of Urology, Chiba-East Hospital, Chiba, Sakura 6 Division of Nephrology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo 7 Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Eiji Higashihara, Department of Urology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. Tel: +81-422-49-7428; Fax: +81-422-47-7553; E-mail: ehigashi{at}kyorin-u.ac.jp
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Abstract |
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Background. Soy protein ameliorates rat polycystic kidney disease with concomitant renal enrichment of 
3-polyunsaturated fatty acids. A study was conducted to examine the effects of eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) on renal volume and function in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
Methods. Non-azotemic patients were randomized to either a control group (n = 20) or an EPA group (n = 21). EPA capsules (2.4 g/day) were administered in the EPA group for 2 years. Twenty-four hours of urine was collected for the creatinine clearance (Ccr) measurement every year. At baseline and 24 months, fatty acid compositions in erythrocytes were measured and computerized tomographies were obtained for calculation of renal volume by the modified ellipsoid and volumetric methods.
Results. In the EPA group, the EPA concentration (1.80 ± 0.99 versus 4.40 ± 1.79 area%, P < 0.001) and the 3/6 ratio in the erythrocyte increased, but docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (6.76 ± 1.19 versus 5.64 ± 1.45 area%, P < 0.010) concentration decreased. Ccr decreased by 8.5 ± 9.5 and 9.0 ± 13.0 ml/min/1.73 m2/2 years in the control and EPA groups, respectively (NS). The increases in renal volume calculated by either method were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusions. A beneficial effect of EPA on renal function and kidney volume in ADPKD patients could not be confirmed in the present study. Administration of EPA with DHA supplementation and/or longer intervention might be necessary to demonstrate preventive effects of 3-polyunsaturated fatty acids on progression of ADPKD.
Keywords: eicosapentaenoic acid; kidney function; kidney volume; 3polyunsaturated fatty acids; polycystic kidney disease
Received for publication: 16.10.07
Accepted in revised form: 21. 2.08