Fish oil for kidney transplant recipients

Lim AKH, Manley KJ, Roberts MA, Fraenkel MB

Published Online:

July 16, 2008

This review set out to assess any benefit or harm in using fish oil to reduce the risk of kidney damage and heart disease in people who have had a kidney transplant and are receiving standard drugs to prevent rejection. Information from 16 studies was used and showed that fish oils provide a slight improvement in HDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure. These studies did not provide enough information on the differences in the risk of death, heart disease, kidney transplant rejection or kidney function between patients receiving fish oils and those receiving placebo. There appeared to be no harmful effects of taking fish oil. The benefits of taking fish oil after a kidney transplant are a mild improvement in some heart disease risk factors. There was not enough information to show any benefit in preventing heart disease or reduction in kidney function. Larger, better studies are needed before regular use of fish oil can be recommended.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Calcineurin inhibitors used in kidney transplantation for immunosuppression have adverse effects that may contribute to nephrotoxicity and increased cardiovascular risk profile. Fish oils are rich in very long chain omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce nephrotoxicity by improving endothelial function and reduce rejection rates through their immuno-modulatory effects. They may also modify the cardiovascular risk profile. Hence, fish oils may potentially prolong graft survival and reduce cardiovascular mortality.

Objectives:

To assess the benefits and harms of fish oil supplementation on kidney transplant recipients on a calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive regimen.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library, issue 2 2005), MEDLINE (1966-April 2005) and EMBASE (1980-April 2005).

Selection criteria:

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of fish oils in kidney transplant recipients on a calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppressive regimen. RCTs of fish oil versus statins were included.

Data collection and analysis:

Data was extracted and the quality of studies assessed by two authors, with differences resolved by discussion with a third independent author. Dichotomous outcomes were reported as risk ratio (RR) and continuous outcome measures were reported as the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals using the random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using a Chi² test on n-1 degrees of freedom and the I² statistic. Data not suitable for pooling were tabulated and described.

Main results:

Sixteen studies (733 patients) were suitable for analysis. Fish oil did not significantly affect patient or graft survival, acute rejection rates, calcineurin inhibitor toxicity or renal function, when compared to placebo. Fish oil treatment was associated with a lower diastolic blood pressure (MD 4.5 mmHg; P = 0.004) compared to placebo. Patients receiving fish oil for more than six months had a modest increase in HDL (MD 0.12 mmol/L; P = 0.01) compared to placebo. Fish oil effects on lipids were not significantly different from low-dose statins. There was insufficient data to analyse cardiovascular outcomes. Fishy aftertaste and gastrointestinal upset were common but did not result in significant patient drop-out.

Authors' conclusions:

There is insufficient evidence from currently available RCTs to recommend fish oil therapy to improve renal function, rejection rates, patient survival or graft survival. The improvements in HDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure were too modest to recommend routine use. To determine a benefit in clinical outcomes, future RCTs will need to be adequately powered with these outcomes in mind.

This record should be cited as:

Lim AKH, Manley KJ, Roberts MA, Fraenkel MB. Fish oil for kidney transplant recipients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD005282. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005282.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

January 17, 2007

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Primary Review Group:

Renal Group

Health topics:

Kidney disease > Kidney transplant > Complications & co-interventions

Complementary & alternative medicine > Kidney disease > Kidney transplant

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Fish oil for kidney transplant recipients

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