Omega 3 Fatty acid supplementation in clinical and experimental lupus nephritis. Proceedings from the National Kidney Foundation Annual Meeting.
Omega 3 Fatty acid supplementation in clinical and experimental lupus nephritis. Proceedings from the National Kidney Foundation Annual Meeting.
Year: 1994
Authors: W F Harris, A Parbtani.
Publication Name: Amer. J. Kidney Dis.
Publication Details: Volume 23; Number 5; 644.
Abstract:
In this review paper, the authors describe research which has assessed the effects of omega 3 PUFAs on clinical and experimental lupus nephritis, a vascular injury which involves both inflammatory and atherosclerotic mechanisms. Previous research by these investigators indicated that fish oil decreased proteinuria, preserved renal morphology and decreased mortality in several animal models of lupus nephritis. In humans with lupus nephritis, both inflammation and atherosclerosis were reduced significantly following fish oil supplementation. The authors describe a study which found that a 15% flaxseed diet reduced mortality and proteinuria, preserved renal function as measured by the glomerular filtration, and inhibited lymphadenopathy and splenic T-cell proliferation in a MRL/lpr mouse model of lupus nephritis. PAF-induced platelet aggregation was also inhibited by the flaxseed diet. The diet had a favorable effect on plasma lipids and blood pressure and significantly decreased disease symptoms. Spleen lymphocyte proliferation at 13 weeks was significantly lower in the flaxseed fed rats. There was a 60% reduction in mortality in the flaxseed fed animals. The authors concluded that dietary flaxseed oil supplementation may become a useful therapeutic adjunct for patients with lupus nephritis and encourage further research in this regard.
