In this study more than 22,000 adults (including 517 diabetics) were included and fish consumption of the participants was determined by using dietary and lifestyle questionnaires. The researchers found that those diabetics who took less than one serving of fish per week were 18 percent more likely to have protein in their urine than the people who took at least two serving of fish per week.

Study co-author Dr. Amanda Adler pointed out that: “One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is to have protein in the urine.”

The study has been published in the November issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Adler and team suggested that kidney function may be benefited by the unique nutrient composition of fish, as it can improve blood glucose control and improve plasma lipid profiles.

There can be some other lifestyle factors that may reduce people’s risk of having protein in the urine, but the design of our study accounted for that possibility, Adler added.

Keeping blood pressure under control, tight control of glucose, quitting smoking and strictly following a diabetic diet are some other measures that can prove helpful to lower the risk of albuminuria (aside from eating fish).