Investigating omega-3 supplementary intake as an intervention to treat chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus, this study revealed decreasing effects of omega-3 fatty acids (3 grams per day) on pruritus. Decrease in prostaglandin E2 levels in the omega-3 group did not differ from the changes in the placebo group.

• In this double-blinded, randomized, crossover study, 40 hemodialysis patients with pruritus were randomized into two groups (Group A and Group B).

• Patients in Group A were asked to consume omega-3 capsules for 4 weeks and after a washout period (6 weeks), they were administered placebo for another 4 weeks; the same was done in Group B but in the reverse order.

• Patients after receiving omega-3 fatty acid supplement exhibited a statistically significant reduction of pruritus score.

• Significant reduction in the mean pruritus score was evident in both first and second treatment period after omega-3 intake; however no significant mean pruritus score difference was observed in the placebo group after both intervention periods.

• In the intervention (omega-3) group, reduction in prostaglandin E2 amount was not statistically significant relative to the placebo group.