Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a dreaded complication of long-term diabetes, affecting more than 20–50% of people with type 1 diabetes. It leads to a worsening of kidney function and eventually results in kidney failure. The reason for this is that uncontrolled high blood sugar in patients with diabetes can cause injury to the kidneys through oxidative stress and inflammation. Researchers are trying to discover plant-based molecules and products to either treat or prevent DN.
In recent research conducted at Pune’s Agharkar Research Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), on Wistar rats suffering from diabetic nephropathy, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZON) treatment has been shown to significantly improve renal function in comparison to insulin-treated diabetic rats.
DN is associated with zinc deficiency in diabetic patients. ZON acts as a depot for the sustained release of bioavailable zinc ions. Previous studies in animal models have proved the glucose-lowering, insulinomimetic, and β-cell proliferative effects of ZON.
The current study showed the following findings:
1. ZON reduced high blood sugar associated oxidative stress, preventing inflammatory cell death.
2. Upon treatment with ZON, the DN rats showed improved kidney function.
3. The structure and the biochemical parameters associated with kidneys improved.
4. ZON improved the pathways involved in kidney damage and also prevented the loss of certain proteins involved in kidney function.
This study suggests that ZON can be used as a complimentary therapeutic agent to treat complications due to diabetes.
This study, published in the Journal of Life Sciences, is the first to show ZON's effect in vitro. However, the study findings need to be further researched to translate them into clinical applications. Yet, it gives hope to millions of people suffering from diabetic kidney diseases. Because with additional exploration, zinc oxide particles can become tool to improve the quality of life of patients with diabetes by either preventing or treating complications.
(Rehash/Dr. Shanjitha J Hussain/MSM)
References:
1. Padhye-Pendse, Aishwarya, Rinku Umrani, Kishore Paknikar, Sachin Jadhav, and Jyutika Rajwade. “Zinc oxide nanoparticles prevent the onset of diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting multiple pathways associated with oxidative stress.” Life Sciences, April 1, 2024, 122667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122667. (Cited on 16/08/2024)