Key Findings
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most frequent cause of end-stage renal disease in Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Excessive glycation leads to accelerated formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which remain irreversibly bound to proteins and other macromolecules. Hyperglycemia-induced AGEs have been implicated in vascular tissue injury in diabetes. In this study, the effects of flaxseed oil and fish oil supplementation on nephropathic alterations in kidneys of streptozotocin – nicotinamide (STZ-NIC)-induced diabetic rats was assessed. Both flaxseed and fish oil showed modulation of oxidative stress via improved expression of antioxidant enzymes, and enhanced antioxidative defense system of kidney. Both oils demonstrated down-regulation of NF-κ B p65 subunit as well as IL-6 mRNA and decrease in inflammatory status in diabetic kidney. N-3 FAs protected the kidney against the pathological effects of glycation mainly by arresting the formation of AGEs and their receptor. The data shows significant positive effects of flax and fish oil in type-2 diabetes associated kidney damage.
Abstract
Protective and prophylactic effects of omega-3 fatty acids on oxidative stress and inflammation are well known. We assessed beneficial effects of flaxseed oil and fish oil on streptozotocin –nicotinamide induced diabetic rats by studying renal expression of antioxidant and inflammatory genes. Diabetic rats given 10 % flaxseed oil or 10 % fish oil diet for 35 days showed significant decrease in renal lipid peroxidation. Flaxseed oil diet resulted in up-regulation of renal superoxide dismutase-1(activity and expression) and glutathione peroxidase-1 expression. Furthermore, both diets up-regulated catalase (CAT) (activity and expression) and down-regulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Both diets were able to limit the renal advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation and reduced receptor of AGE (RAGE) protein expression significantly. Expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and NF- κ B p65 subunit were down-regulated significantly by flaxseed oil or fish oil diet. The histological tubular injuries were also lowered by both diets. These results suggest that dietary n-3 fatty acids may slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) associated with oxidative stress, glycation, and inflammation in the kidney.
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