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Supplemented low-protein diets protect the rat kidney without causing undernutrition
S Maniar1, H Beaufils, D Laouari
1INSERM U192, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Low-protein diets with essential amino acids (EAA) or keto-analogues (KA-EAA) mixtures slow kidney damage in rats. However, no significant benefit of KA or EAA over the other was observed in this study.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Nutritional Science
- Experimental Medicine
Background:
- Low-protein diets supplemented with keto-analogues and essential amino acids (KA-EAA) or essential amino acids (EAA) are used to slow kidney deterioration.
- Previous assumptions about their efficacy lack robust experimental data and have been recently challenged.
- The comparative effects of EAA and KA-EAA supplementation remain unexamined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of EAA and KA-EAA supplementation in low-protein diets on renal deterioration in a rat model.
- To investigate the impact of these diets on renal function, proteinuria, and survival rates.
Main Methods:
- Three groups of rats with subtotal nephrectomy were fed different diets: a reference 16% casein diet (R), a 6% casein plus EAA diet (A), and a 6% casein plus KA-EAA diet (K).
- Diets were matched for energy, minerals, and nitrogen content, inducing comparable growth.
- Renal function markers (plasma urea, creatinine), proteinuria, renal histology, and mortality rates were monitored over 7 months.
Main Results:
- Rats on the reference diet (R) exhibited higher proteinuria and plasma urea levels early on compared to supplemented groups (A and K).
- Renal biopsies at 3 months showed more severe glomerular sclerosis and tubular changes in R rats.
- From months 3-7, R rats had significantly higher plasma creatinine, more proteinuria, and greater mortality rates than A and K rats.
- Histological examination revealed significantly less severe renal lesions in A and K rats compared to R rats.
Conclusions:
- Restriction of nonessential amino acids, compensated by EAA or KA-EAA mixtures, effectively retards renal damage progression in rats without compromising growth.
- No significant difference in renoprotective effects was observed between EAA and KA-EAA supplementation in this experimental model.
- These findings suggest that low-protein diets supplemented with either EAA or KA-EAA can be beneficial for managing chronic kidney disease progression.