A new international trial revealed a significant breakthrough for individuals undergoing dialysis, demonstrating that a daily fish oil supplement dramatically reduces serious heart-related events. Patients receiving the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA experienced a 43% reduction in major cardiovascular complications, offering a rare beacon of hope for a population facing exceptionally high cardiac risk with limited treatment options. This finding, crucial for dialysis patients, was presented at Kidney Week 2025.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among people with kidney failure on dialysis, making effective preventative therapies critically important. Despite this urgent need, many clinical trials aimed at mitigating these risks have yielded disappointing results, leaving both patients and clinicians with few proven interventions. The recent PISCES trial, co-led by Monash University and the University Health Network in Toronto, stands out as a stark contrast, providing a clear path forward for improving patient outcomes.
The study’s robust methodology, encompassing 1,228 participants across Australia and Canada, underscores the reliability of its findings. Published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine, the research focused on the impact of a simple, accessible supplement on a complex and severe health challenge.
Striking results for a vulnerable population
The PISCES trial, a landmark international study, provided compelling evidence of fish oil’s protective effects. Participants who received four grams of fish oil daily, containing natural omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, showed a remarkable 43 percent reduction in serious cardiovascular events. This comprehensive outcome measure included heart attacks, strokes, cardiac-related deaths, and even vascular-related amputations, all common and devastating complications for dialysis patients.
Adjunct Professor Kevan Polkinghorne, a nephrologist at Monash Health and a leader of the Australian arm of the trial, highlighted the significance of these results. “Patients on dialysis have extremely high cardiovascular risk, and very few therapies have been shown to reduce that risk,” Professor Polkinghorne stated. He further noted that dialysis patients typically exhibit much lower levels of EPA and DHA compared to the general population, which might explain the substantial benefits observed in this specific group. This observation, reported by ScienceDaily on January 11, 2026, marks a rare positive finding in a field often characterized by negative trial outcomes.
Implications and specificity of the findings
The implications of the PISCES trial are profound for kidney care, yet researchers are careful to emphasize the specificity of their conclusions. Professor Polkinghorne strongly cautioned that these findings apply exclusively to individuals undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure. He advised against extrapolating the benefits to healthy individuals or other patient populations, stressing that the unique physiological challenges faced by dialysis patients likely contribute to the observed efficacy of fish oil supplementation. This specificity ensures that medical advice remains tailored to the evidence.
The trial’s success was underpinned by significant collaborative efforts. The Australian arm received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), with overall coordination managed by the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN). International leadership for the PISCES trial came from Professor Charmaine Lok and her team at the University Health Network in Toronto and the University of Calgary, demonstrating a global commitment to improving outcomes for this critical patient group. The detailed results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The PISCES trial offers a compelling case for integrating daily fish oil supplementation into the standard care for dialysis patients, potentially transforming how cardiovascular risks are managed in this vulnerable group. While the results are specific to those on dialysis, they open new avenues for research into targeted nutritional interventions for chronic disease management. Future studies may explore optimal dosages, long-term adherence, and the precise mechanisms by which omega-3 fatty acids exert their protective effects in this population.
