Sardine supplement and CRP in hemodialysis patients
What it found
In people on hemodialysis, a canned sardine sandwich supplement had no overall effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
But CRP fell in those who started with the highest CRP levels and in non-diabetic patients.
What they found
Studies in people
Higher CRP group
When patients were grouped by their starting CRP levels, those in the highest group had a reduction in CRP, and the reduction was greater in the sardine group.
Non-diabetic patients
After excluding diabetic patients (eight in the sardine group and seven in the control group), a significant CRP reduction was found.
Acceptance of supplement
48% of the sardine group (31 patients) ate the sardine sandwich three times a week for 8 weeks and completed the study.
Nutrient intake
The canned sardine supplement was accepted by many patients, added variety to their diet, and increased their intake of the n-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that a low-dose n-3 supplement had no effect on CRP overall, but a reduction was found in the upper tertile of CRP and in non-diabetic patients.
- They say these findings need to be further confirmed.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether a canned sardine supplement could affect CRP, a marker of inflammation, in patients on hemodialysis, and how well patients accepted it.
They studied 63 patients on hemodialysis three times a week for at least 6 months, with an initial CRP of 5 mg/dL or less, in two dialysis units in Lisbon, Portugal. After a 4-week washout, 31 patients ate a canned sardine sandwich and 32 ate a cheese or ham sandwich during each dialysis session, 3 times a week for 8 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study in patients on hemodialysis, so the results may not apply to other people.
- The authors say the findings need to be confirmed in further research.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Dietetics-Higher School of Health Technologies, Portugal
The paper
- Title
- Effect of a sardine supplement on C-reactive protein in patients receiving hemodialysis
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Moreira AC, Gaspar A, Serra MA, Simões J, Lopes da Cruz J, Amaral TF (2007). Effect of a sardine supplement on C-reactive protein in patients receiving hemodialysis. Journal of renal nutrition. doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2007.02.005Free full textPubMed 17462553DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error