Protective Effects of Chromium Picolinate Against Diabetic-Induced Renal Dysfunction and Renal Fibrosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Shan Shan Qi,Li Ping Yuan,Hai Jiang,Le Chen Dong,Hong Xing Zheng

doi:10.3390/biom10030398

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important complications of diabetes, and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). While Chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation has been found to be effective in treating diabetes, its effects on diabetic-induced nephropathy have not been studied. Therefore, in this study, CrPic (1 mg kg−1 d−1) was administered to a DN rat model by oral gavage for eight weeks to investigate its effects. The results show that CrPic supplementation caused a decrease in levels of blood glucose, serum insulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and urinary albumin in DN rats. It also reversed renal pathological changes, including renal glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. In addition, the oxidative defense system in the kidneys of DN rats was found to be improved; the biological activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) increased; and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) lowered. Immunohistochemical results reveal that the expression levels of renal transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad 2, and Smad 3 decreased significantly in the kidneys of rats in the CrPic-treated group. CrPic administration was thus found to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in SD rats via an antioxidative stress mechanism, as well the ability to inhibit TGF-β1/Smad2/3 expression. This study suggests that CrPic could be a potential renal-protective nutrient against diabetic nephropathy.

Highlights

The global prevalence of diabetes is on a rapid rise due to changes in lifestyles and eating habits
Chromium picolinate (CrPic) is known to have a beneficial effect on diabetic rats; whether CrPic is beneficial for diabetic nephropathy or not has not been studied
Our results indicate that eight weeks of CrPic supplementation can prevent diabetic nephropathy in SD rats

Summary

Introduction

The global prevalence of diabetes is on a rapid rise due to changes in lifestyles and eating habits. Become a major threat to human health. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe complication of diabetes and the leading cause of death and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). About 30% of diabetic patients have kidney disease, proteinuria, and other severe symptoms, and eventually develop diabetic nephropathy; 53% of patients die from ESRD [2]. The main pathological characteristics of this disease are excessive accumulation of mesangial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to thickening of the glomerular basement membrane. This further causes renal dysfunction, renal fibrosis, and glomerular sclerosis, eventually resulting in ESRD [3,4,5]. There is the urgent need to carry out research to prevent and control diabetic nephropathy, propose effective prevention strategies, and develop effective preventive measures (targeted drugs and nutritional supplements)

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Discussion

Conclusion