Effect of Olive Oil on Erythrocyte Membrane Fatty Acid Contents in Hemodialysis Patients

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have higher mortality rate than general population. Especially, the most common cause of mortality was known as cardiovascular disease that account for almost 50 percent in patients with dialysis. Mediterranean diet was reported for lowering risk of coronary artery disease in general population. Mediterranean diet is not acceptable in CKD patients because of restriction of potassium, phosphorus, and protein. Relatively proper food among Mediterranean diet for hemodialysis patients is olive oil. Many researchers usually preferred olive oil as control group for evaluating effect of omega-3 fatty acid. However, previous studies reported that control groups using olive oil of 3g in a day have shown increased components of omega-3 fatty acid such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Therefore, cardioprotective effect of olive oil may be associated with increasing of omega-3 fatty acid levels.