LONG-TERM EFFECT OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID ETHYL (EPA-E) ON ALBUMINURIA OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS

Dietary cod-liver oil containing eicosapentaenoic acid is effective on microvascular albumin leakage in diabetic patients with albuminuria. We determined the long-term effects of oral pure eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl (EPA-E: 900 mg/day) administration on diabetic nephropathy in n on-insulin dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients. The effects of EPA-E w ere determined by observing the changes of the index of urine albumin excretion level/urine creatinine (Cr) excretion level (UAI), the ratio of beta(2)-microglobulin excretion level/urine Cr excretion level (be ta(2)-MG/Cr) and the ratio of N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase excretion lev el/urine Cr excretion level (beta(2)-MG/Cr) at 3, 6 and 12 months afte r the start of the treatment, Oral EPA-E administration immediately im proved the increased UAI at 3 months after the start of treatment, A s ignificant improvement of the UAI by EPA-E was sustained 12 months lat er. EPA E administration also tended to decrease the urine beta(2)-MG/ Cr ratio from 6 months, but the difference was statistically not signi ficant. However, the urine NAG/Cr ratio was not changed by EPA-E admin istration. EPA-E administration did not affect blood pressure levels, glycemic control and lipid metabolism in these patients. The present d ata indicated that EPA-E administration improved increased albumin exc retion in NIDDM patients with nephropathy and its effects on albuminur ia sustained for at least 12 months after the start of treatment. Howe ver, tubular factors were not influenced by EPA-E administration.