Hypoglycemic action of vitamin K1 protects against early onset diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin-induced rats
M.K.N. Sai Varsh Nutrition 2015; Published Online: June 06, 2015
Highlights:
•First report to show vitamin K1 in preventing early onset diabetic nephropathy
•Vitamin K1 prevented microalbuminuria in diabetic rats
•Vitamin K1 inhibited renal inflammation in diabetic rats
•Vitamin K1 enhanced anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels in diabetic kidney
•Vitamin K1 could be an important nutrient against diabetic nephropathy
Vitamin K is a potent regulator of vascular dynamics; it also prevents vascular calcification and is increasingly being recognized for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently we have shown that vitamin K1 (5mg/kg) protects against streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes and diabetic cataract. Hence, our objective was to determine whether hypoglycemic action of vitamin K1 could inhibit early onset diabetic nephropathy in a streptozotocin-induced rat kidney.
Treatment of diabetic rats with vitamin K1 resulted in decrease in blood glucose and prevented microalbuminuria. Vitamin K1 also reduced oxidative stress and protected renal physiology by modulating Ca2+ and Na+/K+-ATPases. Vitamin K1 inhibited renal inflammation by reducing nuclear factor kappa B and inducible nitric oxide synthase. IL-10 levels were found to be increased in renal tissues suggesting the ability of vitamin K1 to trigger antiinflammatory state. Hypoglycemic action of vitamin K1 could have indirect effect by inhibiting early onset diabetic nephropathy triggered by high blood glucose. Thus, vitamin K1 could be an important nutrient based interventional strategy for early onset diabetic nephropathy.
