Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.
The claim
Posts online say that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps with chronic kidney disease.
Where research stands
We found 173 published papers on omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and chronic kidney disease. They were published between 1987 and 2026. 70 of them are studies in people. 63 of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 20 were studies in animals, and none was only in cells in the lab. 34 papers are reviews that sum up other studies. 1 paper was retracted. 2 new studies in people are running or will start soon, says the trial register ClinicalTrials.gov.
- 70In people63 with a comparison group
- 20In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) has been tested in randomised trials in people with chronic kidney disease.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Modulation of Inflammatory Indices by Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Hemodialysis: A Clinical Trial Approach.2026 · Clin Transl Sci · Randomised trial
- Fish-Oil Supplementation and Cardiovascular Events in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis.2026 · N Engl J Med · Randomised trial
- Comparison of the Effect of Omega-3 vs. MCT Supplementation on Iron-Related Indices in Patients Undergoing Dialysis.2025 · Biol Trace Elem Res · Randomised trial
- Effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on muscle mass, fat mass, and visceral fat of hemodialysis patients; A randomized clinical trial.2024 · J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol · Randomised trial
- The effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels of patients with ESRD condition undergoing dialysis.2024 · J Transl Autoimmun · Randomised trial
- Effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for pruritus in patients undergoing hemodialysis.2024 · Front Nutr · Randomised trial
- Omega-3 supplementation effects on cardiovascular risk and inflammatory profile in chronic kidney disease patients in hemodialysis treatment: An intervention study.2023 · Clin Nutr ESPEN · Randomised trial
- Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on Homocysteine Level in Patients Undergoing Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis.2022 · J Res Pharm Pract · Randomised trial
- Pruritus-reducing effects of omega-3 fatty acids in hemodialysis patients: A cross-over randomized clinical trial.2022 · Hemodial Int · Study in people
- Omega 3 fatty acids effect on the vascular calcification biomarkers fetuin A and osteoprotegerin in hemodialysis patients.2022 · Clin Exp Med · Study in people
- Impact of OMEGA-3 fatty acid in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.2026 · BMC Nephrol · Review
- Fish oil supplements in patients with chronic kidney disease.2026 · Clin Kidney J · Review
- Interpreting the PISCES trial on fish oil in hemodialysis patients: lessons on trial design, biological exposure, and outcome measurement.2026 · Clin Kidney J · Review
- Resolving Inflammation in CKD: The Potential of SPMs and Omega-3 Derivatives as Biomarkers and Therapeutics.2026 · Biomedicines · Review
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid exposure and cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.2026 · Future Cardiol · Review
- Anti-inflammatory effects and safety of omega-3 fatty acids in haemodialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2026 · Clin Nutr ESPEN · Review
- Optimizing omega-3 supplementation in chronically ill dogs: The impact of body weight and dietary inclusion rates.2026 · Res Vet Sci · In animals
- Combined Docosahexaenoic Acid and Captopril Treatment Attenuates Indole Acetic Acid Induced Cardiovascular Injury in Chronic Kidney Disease.2026 · Mol Nutr Food Res · In animals
- Tubular Omega-3 Fatty Acid Receptor FFAR4 Deficiency Aggravated Renal Aging and Chronic Kidney Disease.2026 · Aging Cell · In animals
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids Attenuate Renal Myostatin Expression and Mitochondrial Alterations Under Uremic Conditions.2026 · Int J Mol Sci · In animals
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviate renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease by reducing macrophage activation and infiltration through the JAG1-NOTCH1/2 pathway.2025 · Int Immunopharmacol · In animals
- Renoprotective effects of docosahexaenoic acid in cats with early chronic kidney disease due to polycystic kidney disease: a pilot study.2022 · J Feline Med Surg · In animals
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviate adenine-induced chronic renal failure via regulating ROS production and TGF-β/SMAD pathway.2018 · Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci · RetractedRetracted
- Higher Serum Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Content Is Associated with Improved Long-Term Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.2026 · Nutrients · Other paper
- The Effect of Omega-3 Supplements on Renal Function Indices in Chronic Kidney Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.2025 · Nutr Metab Insights · Other paper
- Chronic Kidney Disease in Diabetes: Is Fish Oil the Answer?2025 · Nephron · Other paper
- Targeted metabolomics identified novel metabolites, predominantly phosphatidylcholines and docosahexaenoic acid-containing lipids, predictive of incident chronic kidney disease in middle-to-elderly-aged Chinese adults.2025 · Metabolism · Other paper
