The relationship between dietary magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B6 intake and polyunsaturated fatty acids status in patients with chronic kidney disease: A pilot study

Abstract

The intake and status of micronutrients represent a significant research area aimed at preventing and treating the progression of renal impairment. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), play a significant role in cardiovascular health and renal function. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B6 intake and the status of PUFAs in serum and erythrocyte phospholipids among CKD (chronic kidney disease) patients. Data on magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B6 intake were obtained through two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires voluntarily completed by patients (one for a regular workday and one for a weekend day). PUFA profiles were determined using gas chromatography. Only 5.4% of patients had an adequate dietary intake of magnesium, 32.1% and 23.6% of patients had the recommended intake of zinc and vitamin B6, respectively. The sum of EPA+DHA content in plasma phospholipids of our patients was 2.61%, representing a very low level. The mean value for omega-3 index in erythrocytes was 4.3%, that is according to literature data related to the moderate risk for cardiovascular diseases in CKD patients. The study revealed the positive correlations between dietary magnesium and zinc intake with PUFAs (n-6 PUFA for magnesium and n-3 PUFA for zinc) and estimated D-6 desaturase activity (for magnesium) in serum phospholipids in CKD patients. The study provides novel findings about inadequate dietary intake of magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, and n-3 PUFA in CKD patients. Moreover, it highlights the role of dietary magnesium intake in metabolism of PUFA in CKD patients, but further studies are necessary to establish a precise relationship between these micronutrients and PUFAs in a larger sample of patients.