Effects of omega-3 fatty acid plus alpha-tocopherol supplementation on malnutrition-inflammation score, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Objective The current study was carried out to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol co-supplementation on malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS), biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 120 patients with chronic HD were included. Patients were randomly allocated into four groups to receive: (1) 1250 mg/ day omega-3 fatty acid containing 600 mg EPA and 300 mg DHA + alpha-tocopherol placebo (n = 30); (2) 400 IU/ day alpha-tocopherol + omega-3 fatty acids placebo (n = 30); (3) 1250 mg omega-3 fatty acids/ day + 400 IU/ day alpha-tocopherol (n = 30); and (4) omega-3 fatty acids placebo + alpha-tocopherol placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Results After 12 weeks of intervention, all three groups of alpha-tocopherol only, individual omega-3 fatty acids, and combined omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol experienced a significant improvements in MIS compared with the placebo group; however, improvements were much greater in the individual omega-3 fats (-1.4 +/- 1.4) and combined omega-3 fats and alpha-tocopherol (-1.1 +/- 2.3) groups compared with alpha-tocopherol group alone (-0.5 +/- 1.7, P = 0.004). Furthermore, both individual and combined intervention with omega-3 fats and alpha-tocopherol led to a significant increase in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (combined group: +17.6 +/- 29.3; alpha-tocopherol: +43.1 +/- 36.3; omega-3 fats: +31.0 +/- 40.0; and placebo: -0.5 +/- 18.5 mu mol/ L, respectively, P < 0.001) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+64.9 +/- 113.6, +53.0 +/- 144.6, +57.6 +/- 157.8 and -69.9 +/- 215.1 mmol/ L, respectively, P = 0.004) levels. Conclusion Overall, omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol co-supplementation for 12 weeks among HD patients improved MIS, plasma NO and TAC levels. Future studies with longer duration of the intervention are needed to confirm the validity of our findings.