Habitual fish oil supplementation, genetic susceptibility of kidney stones and the risk of new-onset kidney stones

J Clin Lipidol. 2024 Jan-Feb;18(1):e116-e124. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2023.11.013. Epub 2023 Nov 27.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to assess the association between habitual fish oil use and new-onset kidney stones in participants with different levels of genetic risks of kidney stones.

Methods: 477,311 participants free of kidney stones at baseline from the UK Biobank cohort were included. Fish oil use was collected by both food frequency questionnaires and 24-h dietary recalls. A genetic risk score (GRS) for kidney stones was calculated based on 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with kidney stones. The primary outcome was new-onset kidney stones.

Results: During a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 5,637 cases of kidney stones were documented. Participants with high genetic risks of kidney stones had a higher risk of new-onset kidney stones (vs. low or intermediate risks; adjusted HR, 1.52; 95 %CI:1.44-1.60). Compared with non-users, habitual use of fish oil was associated with a lower risk of new-onset kidney stones (adjusted HR, 0.84, 95 %CI, 0.78-0.92) in participants with low or intermediate genetic risks, but not in those with high genetic risks of kidney stones (adjusted HR, 1.02, 95 %CI, 0.93-1.12; P-interaction =0.001). Among those with low or intermediate genetic risks of kidney stones, compared with fish oil constant nonusers, the adjusted HRs (95 %CI) for kidney stones were 0.89 (0.75-1.06), 0.72 (0.58-0.90), and 0.79 (0.64-0.97), for fish oil occasional users, modestly constant users, and moderately and highly constant users (P for trend = 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions: Habitual fish oil use was associated with a lower risk of new-onset kidney stones in participants with low or intermediate genetic risk of kidney stones.

Keywords: Fish oil; Genetic risk score; Genetic risks; Kidney stones; Supplements.

MeSH terms

  • Diet
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fish Oils*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Kidney Calculi* / genetics
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Fish Oils