Fish-rich diet reduces kidney damage risk among diabetics

According to a new study, two servings of fish a week, reduces kidney damage risk, often associated with diabetes.

All the participants involved in the study were diabetic. Among them, those who dined on fish less than once a week were 400 percent more prone to have traces of albumin in their urine, than diabetics who feasted on fish twice or more times a week.

The co-author of the study, Epidemiologist Amanda, says that the protein albumin, signals onset of kidney disease, which is one of the most devastating effects of diabetes. The nutrients unique to fish are more likely to stimulate kidney functioning and enhance control over blood glucose levels.

Adler and her colleagues at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Cambridge’s Addenbrooke Hospital, reviewed data from a broad-based European study of Cancer, to analyze if any of the 22,300 English male/female study participants had any effect of fish and kidney disease.

Out of the participants, only 517 had diabetes Type 2. After reviewing their dietary data and studying urine for albumin, it was found that those eating less than one serving of fish a week, were four times more likely to develop albumin traces in their urine, which indicates failing kidneys, than those eating fish twice a week or more.

The study however, did not categorize the types of fish that the study participants ate or did not consider cooking methods. The regional English cuisine in the area of study often included canned tuna, haddock, plaice and cod.

On the whole, it has been noted that a fish-rich diet would help diabetics in warding off kidney damage, although more detailed studies are required in the matter to prove conclusively. In the meanwhile, researchers do not see any harm in eating little more fish, particularly, when cooked in a healthy manner.

The study has been published in the November issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.