Effects of omega-3 fatty acids and coenzyme Q10 on cardiovascular risk in chronic renal failure

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Heart disease is one of the main causes of death in Australia. People with chronic renal failure (CRF) are at increased cardiovascular risk due to the coexistence of hypertension (high blood pressure), blood lipid abnormalities, and increased inflammation and oxidative stress. One approach may be to complement drug treatment of CRF with non-drug measures such as nutrition and lifestyle factors. In this regard, omega-3 fatty acids have great clinical potential in the treatment of CRF and its associated complications. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce blood pressure and blood vessel wall elasticity, they improve blood fats, reduce the tendency of blood to clot, and attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that plays a critical role in cellular function. It improves blood pressure, blood vessel and heart function, and glucose control. It is proposed that the impact of a combined approach of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids given as fish oils and coenzyme Q10, will lead to beneficial composite effects on blood pressure and heart disease risk in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic renal failure. In the proposed study, patients will undergo medical and biochemical assessment during a 3-week baseline period, after which they will be allocated to either supplement their normal diet with either 4g of encapsulated fish oil or placebo per day. Within each of these groups they will be further assigned to take coenzyme Q10 capsules (200mg) or placebo capsules. All measurements will be repeated at the end of 8 weeks.