ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACID DEFICIENCY IN RENAL-FAILURE - CAN SUPPLEMENTS REALLY HELP (REPRINTED FROM RENAL NUTRITION FORUM, VOL 15, PG 1-17, 1996)

Abnormal fatty acid metabolism may contribute to clinical problems suc h as itching, abnormal perspiration, susceptibility to infection, dela yed wound healing, anemia, and increased hemolysis, as seen in patient s with chronic renal failure. A double-blind study of patients on hemo dialysis who received either fish oil, olive oil, or safflower oil doc umented that patients may have increased levels of the proinflammatory prostaglandin PGE(2) and that fish oil intervention may decrease thes e levels, change the fatty acid profile, improve hematocrit levels, an d improve patient perception of symptoms of pruritus.