Summary Arginine is the precursor for nitric oxide, a compound involved in many vascular functions such as dilation of the endothelium (inner lining of blood vessels). This review collected scientific studies to evaluate the relationship between blood levels of arginine, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The results showed that reduced blood levels of arginine and increased…
Summary The present study was performed to investigate whether the chronic administration of antioxidant vitamin C provided protection against kidney damage induced by the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. This study was performed with rats. The results suggested that the chronic administration of vitamin C can be beneficial against cisplatin-induced kidney damage. Further details can be found…
Summary FK506 is a drug used to fight rejection after organ transplantation. This study examined the protective effect of green tea compounds (polyphenols) against FK506-induced kidney damage. The experiments were performed with cells. The results showed that tea polyphenols exerted a strong protection against FK506-induced cell death. Further details can be found in the study.…
Summary This study investigated the effects of the drug iloprost and vitamin C after ischemia-reperfusion (tissue damage caused by the restoration of blood supply to the tissue), which is an important cause of liver damage. The experiments were performed with 34 rats. The researchers discovered that both iloprost and vitamin C decreased kidney damage after…
Summary This study investigated the effect of vitamin C on kidney injury as a result of ischemia-reperfusion (restoration of blood flow to body tissues that were blood flow-deficient). The experiments were performed with 32 rats. The results showed that vitamin C had a protective effect against kidney injury. This effect was attributed to the antioxidative…
Summary This study determined whether vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium have protective effects against cadmium-induced kidney toxicity, which frequently occurs when the body is exposed to this compound. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium were given to rats 1 hour prior to the administration of cadmium every day. The results showed that vitamin C,…
Summary The present study investigated the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, a green tea compound) on kidney damage caused by diabetes. The experiments were performed with rats which were given EGCG for 50 days. The results suggested that EGCG alleviated kidney damage caused by diabetes. Further details can be found in the study. References Noriko…
Summary Vitamin D insufficiency is common in patients with chronic kidney disease and may contribute to further disease. This study evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation in children with chronic kidney disease. 44 children were given vitamin D for 6 weeks. The results showed that the vitamin D supplementation was safe and effective in…
Summary This study was carried out to investigate whether a micronutrient mixture, containing lysine, proline, vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine, green tea extract and other micronutrients, had protective effects on paracetamol-induced damage to the liver and kidneys. Four groups of mice (A, B, C, and D) were investigated. Groups A and C were fed a regular diet…
Summary The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status in children with kidney diseases. For this purpose, blood levels of vitamin D were measured in 127 children with kidney disease. A deficiency or insufficiency of vitamin D were observed in more than 43 % of the children. The researchers therefore stressed…
Summary This study investigated the relationship between dietary zinc supplementation and the development of IgA nephropathy, a disease of the kidney. The study was conducted with 7-week-old IgA nephropathy-prone mice with low, normal or high zinc levels. The results showed that zinc deficiency was associated with kidney disease progression. Moreover, zinc supplementation was found to…
Summary This study investigated the protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea extract, on kidneys when treated with the drug cyclosporine (CsA). The study was carried out with rodents. The authors found that EGCG treatment significantly protected kidney function. Furthermore, the plant compound was effective against CsA-induced oxidative stress (imbalance between the production…
Summary This study investigated whether epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea compound, can be protective against kidney stones. The experiments were performed with cells and rats. The results showed that EGCG inhibited kidney stone formation. Further details can be found in the study. References Byong Chang Jeong, Bong Sub Kim, Jung In Kim, Hyeon Hoe Kim Link…
Summary Dialysis is the process of blood purification used to treat kidney failure. Research has shown that requirements for vitamin C are increased in patients undergoing dialysis. In this study, 45 dialysis patients were tested for vitamin C insufficiency and deficiency. The results showed that vitamin C deficiency is a common finding in dialysis patients.…
Summary This study investigated the relationship between oxidative stress (damage caused by free radicals) and chronic kidney failure in patients undergoing dialysis (process of blood purification in patients with kidney failure). Blood levels of vitamin C were measured before and after vitamin C administration. It was found that vitamin C supplementation had beneficial effects in…
Summary This study investigated the association between blood levels of the antioxidant lycopene, painkillers use and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Blood levels of antioxidants were measured in 201 patients with CKD and in 313 persons without the disease. The results showed that higher blood levels of lycopene were associated with lower risk…
Summary This study investigated the effects of a natural tetrapeptide (a molecule consisting of 4 amino acids), Ac-SDKP, on kidney damage. This study was performed in mice with diabetes. The results suggested that Ac-SDKP ameliorates kidney insufficiency and kidney damage. Further details can be found in the study. References Kazuyuki Shibuya, Keizo Kanasaki, Motohide Isono, Haruhisa Sato, Mitsugu Omata, Toshiro…