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Omega 3 fatty acids effect on the vascular calcification biomarkers fetuin A and osteoprotegerin in hemodialysis patients

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Abstract

Chronic renal failure patients on dialysis are at a high risk of death due to vascular calcification. This study aimed at investigating the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the vascular calcification biomarkers fetuin-A and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with chronic renal failure who are undergoing hemodialysis. This prospective, open-label, controlled, parallel study included 60 hemodialysis patients who were randomized to receive either omega-3 fatty acids capsule along with their standard care of treatment (omega-3 group) or their standard care of treatment only (control group). Serum levels of fetuin-A, OPG, calcium, phosphorus, hemoglobin, parathyroid hormone, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin, serum creatinine (SCr), and serum triglycerides (TG) were measured at baseline and after six months of intervention and follow-up of both groups. Significantly increased levels of fetuin-A and OPG (p < 0.001) were observed in the omega-3 group six months after the intervention compared with the control group. Levels of TG, albumin, SCr, BUN, phosphorous, calcium, hemoglobin, and parathyroid hormone were not significantly different in the omega-3 group compared with the control group after six months of intervention. Our study concluded that omega-3 may have a clinically beneficial effect in decreasing cardiovascular events by increasing the levels of the protective vascular calcification inhibitors fetuin-A and osteoprotegerin in chronic renal failure patients who are undergoing hemodialysis.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to our participants and the medical staff in the Renal Dialysis Unit et al. Mouwasat University Hospital for their honest assistance and recommendations.

Funding

This study has not received any type of grant or any fund from commercial, public, or nonprofit groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22514, Egypt

    Rehab H. Werida & Sohaila Abou-Madawy

  2. Nephrology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Mohamed Abdelsalam

  3. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22514, Egypt

    Maged W. Helmy

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  1. Rehab H. Werida
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Werida, R.H., Abou-Madawy, S., Abdelsalam, M. et al. Omega 3 fatty acids effect on the vascular calcification biomarkers fetuin A and osteoprotegerin in hemodialysis patients. Clin Exp Med 22, 301–310 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-021-00740-w

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