Effect of omega 3 fatty acids on oxidative stress in acute renal failure induced by ischemia reperfusion

Ischemia reperfusion (IR) occurs when the blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia، or lack of oxygen; it is a common cause of acute renal failure. The present study evaluated the effect of pretreatment with omega 3 fatty acids on ischemia reperfusion injury.

Right nephrectomy was performed on 81 male Wistar rats (255-300 g). The rats received either omega 3 fatty acids (DHA+EPA 200 mg/kg/d) or distilled water orally for 14 d prior to ischemia reperfusion (6، 24، 48 h reperfusion). Serum creatinine (SCr)، BUN، creatinine clearance (CCr)، and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) were measured. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and renal histological injury were also determined.

SCr، BUN and FENa increased after 6-48 h of reperfusion (p < 0. 01). CAT and SOD activity decreased (p < 0. 05) in the IR group. DHA+EPA decreased SCr، BUN and FENa، (p < 0. 05 vs. IR) and increased CCr، CAT، and SOD activity (p < 0. 05 vs. IR) for 6-48 h after ischemia. IR induced mild (6 h، p < 0. 05) to severe (24-48 h، p < 0. 01) tissue damage. The tissue damage decreased significantly for the DHA+EPA group over the IR group (p < 0. 05 vs. IR; 24-48 h).

The results suggest that pre-ischemic exposure to DHA+EPA ameliorates oxidative stress and could improve kidney function by decreasing SCr، BUN، and FENa، and increasing CCr.