An Investigation into the Effects of Omega-3 on Uremic Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.

Itching along with other problems can be one of the factors exacerbating the sufferings and disturbing the comfort of patients with chronic renal failure. The present research aimed to study the effects of omega-3 on the treatment of uremic pruritus in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this crossover randomized clinical trial study, 52 HD patients with pruritus were evaluated. After the random assignment of the participants to Group 1 (treatment mode A) (omega-3 plus cetirizine) and Group 2 (treatment mode B) (cetirizine), they received the treatments for six weeks and then after one week washout period, treatments were changed between the two groups. The pruritus severity was measured using the Yosipovitch pruritus questionnaire before the intervention and at the end of each treatment period. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance with repeated measures, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results of this study showed that pruritus severity reduced in both groups, but it was more significant in Group 1 (omega-3 plus cetirizine). The study findings indicated that omega-3 is effective in the reduction of uremic pruritus. Therefore, this supplement can be used as a convenient method for reducing pruritus in HD patients.

The effects of omega-3 on the sleep quality of patients with uremic pruritus undergoing hemodialysis: a randomized crossover study.

OBJECTIVES: Information on sleep quality and its effective factors in the patients undergoing hemodialysis are important factors in future planning for improving sleep quality and ultimately the quality of life in these patients. The present study investigated the effect of omega-3 on the sleep quality of hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The 52 hemodialysis patients were randomized into two groups and underwent two different treatment modes (A and B). The first group was given omega-3 and cetirizine and the second group only received cetirizine for six weeks. After one week wash out, the study was followed by crossover treatment in both groups for six weeks. Sleep quality and pruritus severity were evaluated in patients before the intervention and at the end of each treatment period using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Yosipovitch Itch Questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that majority of the patients (94.2%) had poor sleep quality (sleep score > 5 based on the questionnaire) and 5.8% of the patients had favorable sleep quality (sleep score < 5). Repeated measures ANOVA showed that sleep quality scores were different in two groups in phases 0, I and II (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep quality improved in both modes but more improvement was observed in mode A. Therefore, omega-3 fatty acids can be used as a suitable method for improving sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.