Effectiveness of Topical Chia Seed Oil on Pruritus of End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients and Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

Background: Several studies have been performed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary n-3 fatty acid for patients with renal dysfunction. While about 40% to 80% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) complain about pruritus and xerosis, there are few reports on the effects of topical n-3 fatty acid on these symptoms. Objective: In order to investigate the possible beneficial effects of topical n-3 fatty acid, oils extracted from chia (Salvia hispanica) seed were formulated into topical products, the effects of which were measured. Methods: Five healthy volunteers having xerotic pruritus symptoms and 5 patients with pruritus caused by either ESRD or diabetes were involved in this study. A topical formulation containing 4% chia seed oils were applied for an 8-week duration. Subjective itching symptoms were assessed on a 6-point scale, as were other skin functions, namely transepidermal water loss and skin capacitance. Results: After the 8 weeks of application, significant improvements in skin hydration, lichen simplex chronicus, and prurigo nodularis were observed in all patients. A similar improvement was also observed among healthy volunteers with xerotic pruritus. Improvement of epidermal permeability barrier function and skin hydration, represented by trans-epidermal water loss and skin capacitance, respectively, were also observed. No adverse effects were observed in all the tested patients and volunteers. Conclusion: Chia seed oil can be used as an adjuvant moisturizing agent for pruritic skin, including that of ESRD patients.

Nutritional and therapeutic perspectives of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.): a review

“…Application of topical formulation added with chia oil significantly improved the skin hydration, lichen simplex chronicus, and prurigo nodularis in all the patients. Healthy volunteers suffering from xerotic pruritus also revealed improvement in (Phillips and Wiliams 2000) skin hydration followed by the trans epidermal water loss and capacitance of skin (Jeong et al 2010). …”

Therapeutic Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus: a Literature Review

“…Pharmacological therapies that have been used comprise emollients and topical corticosteroids, capsaicin cream, endocannabinoid cream, tacrolimus ointment, antihistamines, gabapentin, naltrexone, nalfurafine, thalidomide, pentoxiphylline, activated charcoal, cholestyramine, epoetin, pizotyline, ketotifen, and nicergoline. [7][8][9] The underlying mechanism(s) for CKD-aP have not yet been fully elucidated. However, an area of substantial etiological interest with relation to CKD-aP is the essential fatty acids and their metabolites derived from cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways including prostaglandins and leukotrienes, respectively.…”

Impact of Socio-Aesthetics as Supportive Care in A Large, Multi-Specialty Hospital

“…This situation has mainly been reported in patients with kidney failure and those who are on hemodialysis. More than 85% of hemodialysis patients suffer from xeroderma [24][25][26][27][28] . There may be a link between the pruritus that affects many of these patients and their level of skin dryness [29] .…”