Omega-3 Protected Aging Mouse Kidneys From Scarring
Graded Preliminary — experiments in mice with six animals per group, plus tissue samples from a small number of people; whether the effect carries over to humans is untested.
Animal study. Findings may not carry over to people, which is why the grade is capped at Preliminary.
- Design
- Animal study
- Participants
- —
- Duration
- 7 months
- Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China; Sichuan Science and Technology…
In mice, omega-3 fats reduced scarring in aging and diseased kidneys.
Kidneys work less well with age, and the risk of chronic kidney disease rises. In mice, omega-3 fats from fish oil eased both problems. Aging mice and mice with kidney damage developed less scar tissue in the kidney. Cells lining the tiny kidney tubes also showed fewer signs of aging. A docking site for omega-3 on these cells, a receptor called FFAR4, played a central role.
The researchers mixed omega-3 into the food of 15-month-old mice for seven months. Afterwards their kidneys filtered better than those of untreated old mice, and less protein leaked into the urine. When mice lacked the receptor in their kidney tubes, aging damage and kidney disease were worse. In human tissue samples, older people and kidney patients had less FFAR4. The less receptor they had, the worse their kidneys worked.
Most of the results come from mice and cell experiments. They do not show whether omega-3 supplements protect the kidneys of older people. Human studies on this have so far given mixed results, the authors note. They also only triggered kidney disease in younger mice, not in old ones.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.