Ectopic calcification of rat aortas and kidneys is reduced with n-3 fatty acid supplementation

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 1998 Sep;59(3):221-7. doi: 10.1016/s0952-3278(98)90066-7.

Abstract

Supplementation with essential fatty acids has been shown to prevent the experimentally induced ectopic calcification of the kidneys known as nephrocalcinosis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a semi-synthetic diet supplemented with different essential fatty acids while being injected for a period of 10 days with calcium glubionate. After 3 weeks their kidneys and aorta were removed and the respective calcium content measured compared to the control, saline injected animals. Lipoic acid-EPA, fish oil (EPA rich) as well as the EPA monoester reduced the calcium concentration of both the kidneys and the aorta towards control values. Lipoic-EPA was the best absorbed of the three compounds and its combination of anti-oxidant together with EPA lowered the calcium content of both the aortas and the kidneys.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / pathology*
  • Calcium / analysis
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Eicosanoids / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / therapeutic use*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Male
  • Nephrocalcinosis / metabolism*
  • Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Trisaccharides / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Eicosanoids
  • Fatty Acids, Essential
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Trisaccharides
  • calcium glubionate
  • Calcium