The Influence of Fatty Acids on Thyroxine and 3, 3'-Diiodothyronine Levels in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure on Hemodialysis

Abstract Chronic Renal failure patients on dialysis are at a high risk of death due to vascular calcification (VC). This study aimed at investigating the effect of omega3- fatty acids on the vascular calcification biomarkers fetuin-A and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who are undergoing hemodialysis. This prospective, open-label, controlled, parallel study included 60 hemodialysis patients who were randomized to receive either omega-3 fatty acids capsule along with their standard care of treatment (omega-3 group) or their standard care of treatment only (control group). Serum levels of fetuin-A, OPG, calcium, phosphorus, hemoglobin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin (ALB), serum creatinine (SCr), and serum triglycerides (TG) were measured at baseline and after six months of intervention and follow-up of both groups. Significantly increased levels of fetuin-A and OPG (p<0.001) were observed in the omega-3 group six months after the intervention compared with the control group. Levels of calcium, phosphorous, hemoglobin, parathyroid hormone, BUN, albumin, SCr, and TG were not significantly changed in the omega-3 group or the control group after six months of intervention. Our study concluded that omega-3 may have a clinically beneficial effect in decreasing cardiovascular events by increasing the levels of the protective vascular calcification inhibitors fetuin-A and osteoprotegerin in chronic renal failure patients who are undergoing hemodialysis.

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Concentrations of iodothyronines in serum of patients with chronic renal failure and other nonthyroidal illnesses: role of free fatty acids.

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/33.8.1382 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 33 (8) ◽

pp. 1382-1386 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

K Liewendahl ◽

S Tikanoja ◽

H Mähönen ◽

T Helenius ◽

M Välimäki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Renal Failure ◽

Chronic Renal Failure ◽

Free Fatty Acids ◽

Serum Proteins ◽

Molar Ratio ◽

Similar Degree ◽

Albumin Concentration ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Concentration

Abstract The mean concentration of free thyroxin (FT4) in serum, as determined by direct equilibrium dialysis, was decreased in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and increased in patients with various other nonthyroidal illnesses (NTI). The mean concentration of dialyzable free triiodothyronine (FT3) in serum was equally low in both groups of patients. Patients with CRF of various etiology but a similar degree of renal failure as estimated from serum creatinine assay had very similar concentrations of FT4 and FT3 in their serum. Mean thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations in serum were decreased in CRF and NTI, whereas the mean reverse-T3 concentration in serum was normal in CRF and increased in NTI. T4-binding globulin and albumin were markedly decreased in CRF and NTI; T4-binding prealbumin was increased in CRF and decreased in NTI. The mean concentration of nonesterified free fatty acids (FFA) in serum was increased in NTI but not in CRF. The weak, but significant, positive correlation observed between FT4 and FFA in serum (r = 0.34, P less than 0.01) in NTI indicates that the increase in serum FT4 in this group of patients could be an effect, at least in part, of FFA competing with T4 for binding sites on serum proteins. The stronger correlation detected between the serum FT4 concentration and the FFA/albumin molar ratio in serum (r = 0.60, P less than 0.001) demonstrates the importance of a low albumin concentration for expression of the effect of FFA on FT4 in severe systemic illnesses.

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