A new study conducted by British scientists discovered that intake of fish twice a week might help in preventing kidney problems in diabetics.

The study, published in the November edition of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, showed that intake of fish lowers abnormal levels of protein in the urine of diabetes patients.

The researchers analyzed the records of over 22,000 middle-aged and older English men and women, 517 of whom were diabetics, especially type 2 diabetes.

The participants were asked about their diet habits and had their urine samples analyzed for the presence of a protein called albumin, which is an indicator of kidney damage.

The study discovered that participants who ate less than one serving of fish per week were four times more likely to have protein (albumin) in their urine than people who ate fish more than once per week.

Study co-author Amanda Adler, an epidemiologist with the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, said, “Protein in the urine is one of the earliest signs of kidney disease, a serious complication of diabetes.”

“The condition, known medically as macroalbuminuria can herald worse kidney damage and increase the risk even for heart attacks,” Dr. Adler added.

She further stated that the nutrient content of fish might have an effect on kidney function and improve blood glucose control.

She also said that it’s too early to advise such a diet as the study researchers are not positive whether the fish contributed to the improvement or other factors in their lifestyle.

Susan Spratt, assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology at Duke University Medical Center, said, “People who eat fish might have other healthier habits, which reduce their risk of having the protein in their urine.”

On fish benefits in diabetics, the US National Kidney Foundation has some suggestions to keep levels of albumin down. They include tight control of glucose, keeping blood pressure under control, quitting smoking, and following a diabetic diet as prescribed by a doctor.