In the November issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, British researchers analyzed the records of more than 22,000 middle-aged and older English men and women who were part of a large European cancer study. Researchers wanted to examine the effect of eating fish on kidney disease.

The study subjects had answered questionnaires about their diet habits, including how much fish they ate weekly, and had provided urine samples, which were analyzed for a protein called albumin, an indicator of kidney damage.

The researchers reported that of the 517 study subjects who had diabetes (mostly Type 2), those who, on average, ate less than one serving of fish each week were four times as likely to have albumin in their urine as people with diabetes who ate fish twice weekly.

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

Adler speculated that the nutrient content of fish might affect kidney function and improve blood glucose control. But what kind of fish makes the biggest health splash wasn't determined.

Susan Spratt, assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology at Duke University Medical Center, said it's too early to recommend diet changes based on the findings, noting that cause and effect are hard to determine in this type of study. "People who eat fish might have other healthier habits," she said.

To prove fish could be a kidney disease-fighting factor in diabetes, clinical trials would be required where people with diabetes ate fish and others did not, she said.

"But it wouldn't hurt patients to eat more fish," said Spratt, who recommends fish oil to lower triglycerides in her diabetes patients.

For dinner, stick with low-fat broiled and baked recipes, she said.

BAKED HALIBUT PARMESAN

4 halibut steaks (about 2 pounds total)

Salt and ground white pepper

1/2 cup low-fat sour cream

1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon dry white wine

Pinch dried dill

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Paprika, for sprinkling

1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 375 F. Line 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place steaks in single layer and season lightly with salt and pepper.

In small bowl, whisk to combine sour cream, mayonnaise, parmesan, wine, dill and butter. Cover fish evenly with thick coating of sauce and sprinkle with light dusting of paprika.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until fish loses its translucency and flakes with fork.

Serve warm with lemon wedges. Serves 4.