A recent international clinical trial suggests that daily fish oil supplementation may significantly reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing dialysis for kidney failure. The study, known as the PISCES trial, was conducted in Australia and Canada, involving 1,228 participants receiving dialysis treatment at 26 different sites. The findings were presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2025 and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The trial demonstrated that participants who took four grams of fish oil daily experienced a 43 percent reduction in major cardiovascular events compared to those receiving a placebo. These events included heart attacks, strokes, cardiac deaths, and vascular-related amputations. The fish oil supplement used in the trial contained omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are naturally found in fish oil.
Adjunct Professor Kevan Polkinghorne, a nephrologist at Monash Health and an affiliate of the School of Clinical Sciences, led the Australian segment of the trial. He noted the significant cardiovascular risks faced by dialysis patients and highlighted that few therapies have shown efficacy in mitigating this risk. Notably, dialysis patients typically have lower levels of EPA and DHA than the general population, which may contribute to the observed benefits.
It is important to note that the findings are specific to individuals undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure and should not be generalized to the broader population or other patient groups. The trial received support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), with coordination managed by the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN). The international leadership was provided by Professor Charmaine Lok and colleagues from the University Health Network in Toronto and the University of Calgary.