In a new study, researchers found that supplements of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids (often sold as fish oil) do not help people with type 2 diabetes stave off chronic kidney disease.
The research was conducted by a team at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Of the 28 million Americans who live with type 2 diabetes, about 40% develop chronic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys cannot adequately remove waste and fluid from the body.
This disrupts a person’s health in myriad ways and can progress to kidney failure. It also greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular events and death.
Previous studies have suggested that vitamin D and fish oil supplements have anti-inflammatory and other properties that might prevent or slow type 2 diabetes’ progression to chronic kidney disease.
Research also has found associations between humans’ kidney decline and lower levels of vitamin D and lower dietary intake of fish.
In the study, the team designed a five-year study of kidney function in 1,312 adults with type 2 diabetes in the research.
The adults had no heart disease or cancer, and most did not start with signs of kidney disease.
They were then randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: 370 people received supplements of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), 333 received vitamin D and a fish oil placebo, 289 received a vitamin D placebo and a capsule of fish oil, and 320 received two placebos.
On average, kidney function declined by about 15% over the course of the study.
The team found the amount of decline did not vary significantly whether participants were assigned to vitamin D or placebo, or to omega-3 fatty acids or placebo.
There were also no significant differences in urine protein excretion.
The team says they were hopeful for both of these interventions, vitamin D and fish oil, but they don’t appear to be particularly effective for this purpose.
But even if it’s not the result they hoped for, closing a chapter is useful for patients and clinicians.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Ian de Boer, a professor of medicine.
The study is published in JAMA.
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