Research: YANG and COLLEAGUES,

Listed in Issue 248

Abstract

YANG and COLLEAGUES, (1)Department of Nutrition, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan, ROC. (2)School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan, ROC set out to study in hypertensive rats, the effects of β-conglycinin (one of the major storage proteins of soybeans) and soya isoflavones on diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Background

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of β-conglycinin and soya isoflavones on diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methodology

DN was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (25 mg/kg) in spontaneously hypertensive rats. DN rats were divided into a non-diabetic group (C, control group) and three DN groups (D, DN with control diet; B, DN+control diet with one-eighth of casein replaced by β-conglycinin as the protein source; and I, DN+control diet with 0·01 % soya isoflavones).

Results

After a 4-week experimental period, the authors found that fasting blood sugar and plasma and kidney advanced glycation end product levels and 24 h urinary protein excretion of the B group were significantly lower than those of the D group and insulin sensitivity and nephrin expression of the B group were significantly higher than those of the D group. In addition, systolic blood pressure, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, angiotensin II level and plasma TAG level of the B group were significantly lower than those of the D group, whereas only the levels of plasma TAG and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances of the I group were lower than those of the D group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, β-conglycinin may be beneficial for retarding DN progression and this effect cannot be completely explained by its isoflavone content.

References

Yang HY(1), Wu LY(2), Yeh WJ(2), Chen JR(2). Beneficial effects of β-conglycinin on renal function and nephrin expression in early streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy rats.  Br J Nutr. 111(1):78-85. Jan 14 2014. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513001876. Epub 2013 Jun 27.

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