[The effect of highly unsaturated fatty acids on the parameters of lipoprotein metabolism and rheology during their administration to patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis treatment].

Fifteen hemodialysis patients were treated with capsules of highly unsaturated fatty acids given in addition to their normal diet over a period of 6 months. At study start they received 12 capsules daily, each containing 105 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 75 mg docosahexaenoic acid. There was a significant fall of triglycerides from an initial 521 mg/dl on average to 334 mg/dl. Total cholesterol was reduced from 266 mg/dl to 233 mg/dl with a continuous fall throughout the study period, ldl cholesterol being the main part, falling from 227 mg/dl to 192 mg/dl. These changes were accompanied by a reduction of apolipoprotein A1 from 118 mg/dl to 109 mg/dl and of B from 212 mg/dl to 204 mg/dl. Parameters of whole blood viscosity decreased significantly (viscous component eta' from 6.81 to 6.44 mPas--elastic component eta" from 1.85 to 1.53 mPas), while the plasma viscosity remained unchanged with 1.44 mPas. The improvement of flow properties results from adherence of omega-3 fatty acids to the phospholipids of the red cell membrane. The conclusion is that supplementation with fish oil in addition to normal food intake of dialysis patients contributes to an improvement of lipoprotein metabolism and flow properties. Thus, two risk factors concerning thrombosis and cardiovascular diseases can be positively influenced.