Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Omega-3 Supplements Prevent Kidney Damage in Diabetics

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Adults with type II diabetes need to stay in control of their diet and health; otherwise, the disease can degrade every organ in the body - especially the kidneys. Diabetes-induced kidney disease, also called diabetic nephropathy, is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney problems in the West. If left uncontrolled, this disease may lead to death in just several years. The good news is that scientists may have discovered a way to lower the risk of kidney damage - through omega-3 supplements.

Symptoms of diadetic nephropathy
Unfortunately, kidney damage has no obvious symptoms during the early stages. The first sign is high amounts of protein in urine, which is detected through a routine urine lab analysis. This is why it's important to go to your doctor for regular check-ups and get a urine analysis every six months once you get diagnosed with diabetes. Other symptoms include excessively frothy urine, fatigue, hiccups, vomiting, nausea, and swelling of the legs.

Research on omega-3 and diabetic nephropathy
The first association between kidney damage and omega-3 consumption was discovered by English researchers. Using health data obtained from 22,000 elderly patients, they discovered that those who consume the most fish are less likely to develop diabetic nephropathy. As for those who eat fish once a week or less, they were four times more likely to experience the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy when compared to those who ate fish on a regular basis. It didn't matter what kind of fish they were eating as they all seemed to provide the same protective benefit against kidney degradation. Only recently did researchers put two and two together.
In the latest issue of Diabetic Medicine, you'll find a new study from the University of Hong Kong with regards to diabetic nephropathy. They confirmed that omega-3 fatty acids in fish were indeed responsible for the prevention of this complication. This was discovered by measuring creatine levels, a substance secreted by the kidneys; high amounts of creatine indicate damage to the nephron's functions in the kidney. According to the new study, they observed a significant decrease in creatine levels after the patients took fish oil supplements with four grams of omega-3 fats DHA and EPA.

Promote kidney health with omega-3 fats
If you don't like eating fish, you can still enjoy the protective benefits of omega-3 fats by consuming fish oil supplements. While the study used 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, consuming 1-2 grams a day is enough to maintain good health. Stay away from high-cholesterol foods, trans-fats, and omega-6 fat from vegetable oil as these can interfere with omega-3's actions in the body.

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