Natural triglyceride omega-3 supplements at doses below 2000mg daily reduced C-reactive protein levels in hemodialysis patients more effectively than higher doses or synthetic formulations, according to analysis of 13 studies involving 678 participants. The standardized mean difference of -0.36 represents a clinically meaningful reduction in systemic inflammation for this vulnerable population. This finding challenges the conventional wisdom that higher omega-3 doses deliver superior anti-inflammatory benefits. For the millions of dialysis patients worldwide facing elevated cardiovascular risk from chronic inflammation, this represents a practical therapeutic opportunity. The superior performance of natural triglyceride forms over synthetic ethyl esters aligns with emerging pharmacokinetic research showing better bioavailability of naturally structured fatty acids. However, the moderate heterogeneity between studies and the chronic kidney disease context limit broader applicability. The dose-response relationship suggests a therapeutic window rather than a linear benefit, possibly reflecting saturation of inflammatory pathways or competing metabolic effects at higher intakes. While confirmatory for omega-3's anti-inflammatory potential, this meta-analysis is incremental rather than paradigm-shifting, refining dosing strategies for a specific clinical population.
Omega-3 Under 2000mg Daily Reduces Inflammation in Dialysis Patients
📄 Based on research published in Clinical nutrition ESPEN
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