People who need dialysis for kidney failure often have a high chance of heart attacks, strokes, or other serious heart problems. A new study found that taking fish‑oil supplements each day can lower that risk.
The research, called the PISCES trial, involved 1,228 patients from 26 dialysis centers in Australia and Canada. It was presented at a big kidney‑health meeting and later printed in a top medical journal.
Participants who took four grams of fish oil every day had far fewer major heart events than those who took a fake pill. The fish oil provided two natural omega‑3 fats, EPA and DHA, that are found in oily fish.
Overall, the fish‑oil group saw a 43% drop in serious heart problems, including heart attacks, strokes, death from heart disease, and amputations caused by poor blood flow.
Dr. Kevan Polkinghorne, a kidney doctor at Monash Health, led the Australian part of the trial. He said, "People on dialysis have a very high heart risk, and few treatments help. This study shows a clear benefit."
He also explained that dialysis patients usually have low levels of EPA and DHA, which may be why the supplement worked so well for them.
The findings only apply to patients who receive hemodialysis, not to healthy people or other patient groups.
The Australian side of the study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and coordinated by the Australasian Kidney Trials Network. About 200 Australian patients took part, including 44 at Monash Health.
International leadership came from professors at the University Health Network in Toronto and the University of Calgary.