A study found that people with diabetes who used fish oil had a 10% lower adjusted risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared with those who did not use fish oil during an average period of 11.3 years.¹ When the risk of CKD was evaluated in relation to age, the researchers found that fish oil users and nonusers had a similar risk of developing the disease, but the risk was delayed by approximately 2.79 years among users. According to authors Yang Ao and colleagues, the findings suggest that people with diabetes should commence fish oil use early to mitigate CKD risk.

People with diabetes are at high risk of developing CKD, which is responsible for a significant portion of premature deaths among diabetes patients.

In this study, lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and higher levels of hemoglobin A1c (a marker of long-term glucose levels) and C-reactive protein (CRP, a marker of inflammation) were associated with the incidence of CKD. Fish oil users had higher HDL and lower serum levels of hemoglobin A1c and CRP than nonusers, which suggests protective mechanisms for fish oil against CKD.

The study, which was reported August 27, 2024, in Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism included 24,497 men and women with diabetes who participated in the UK Biobank, which enrolled over half a million people from 2006–2010. Fish oil use was reported by 7,122 individuals. Chronic kidney disease was diagnosed in 3,533 people during an 11.3-year average follow-up.