The Influence of Nutritional Compounds on Inflammatory Markers of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients ($10,475)
A grant was awarded to a group led by Dr Cecilia Shing to undertake initial research on the potential benefits of some nutritional compounds.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is associated with increased inflammation. Interventions that aim to reduce inflammation have the potential to improve the health of CKD patients. Curcumin (derived from tumeric), fish oil and bovine colostrum have anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated whether these nutritional supplements could reduce laboratory markers of inflammation, potentially providing benefit to CKD patients.
White blood cells were isolated from CKD patients and healthy controls and were cultured alone or with curcumin, fish oil and bovine colostrum to determine the effect of these nutritional supplements on the production of inflammatory markers and the major activator or clotting tissue factor.
CKD patients have been shown to have higher blood concentrations of inflammatory proteins, in particular C reactive protein which has been associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Fish oil was able to inhibit the production of C reactive protein by 37% in CKD patients, suggesting that fish oil supplementation would be beneficial for CKD patients. Fish oil also reduced the production of other markers of inflammation associated with the progression of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Curcumin reduced inflammation in the CKD Group.
Tissue factor, the protein that triggers blood clotting, is elevated in CKD and contributes to increased susceptibility of CKD patients to cardiovascular disease. Fish oil and curcumin did not influence the production of tissue factor, however bovine colostrum stimulated tissue factor to a greater extent in CKD patients when compared to healthy controls.
These findings support the use of fish oil and curcumin as nutritional supplements to reduce markers of inflammation.
Tasmania's Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust was established in 1991.