The roles of short-chain fatty acids in diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) represents a predominant severe adverse event associated with diabetic mellitus (DM). It represents the primary etiology for chronic kidney disease (CKD) globally. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) represent a subset of fatty acids that may influence kidneys. This study aimed to investigate the level of SCFAs among DKD cases along with the association among SCFAs as well as renal functions. Methods: Our prospective research involved 60 diabetic patients, ages 36-65 years, divided into three groups; group 2: diabetic with microalbuminuria, group 3: diabetic with heavy proteinuria, group 4: diabetic with renal impairments beside twenty healthy volunteers a control group (group 1). Results: SCFAs concentrations exhibited a decrease among cases developing DKD. A negative association was documented among level of SCFAs as well as inflammatory markers as white blood cells and C reactive protein (CRP) in diabetic patients with heavy proteinuria and renal impairment. There was negative correlation between level of SCFAs and glycated hemoglobin test (HbA1c), Fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBs), blood cholesterols, triglyceride (TG), 24 hours urinary protein collection, blood urea and serum creatinine in DKD with a significant positive association among SCFAs as well as haemoglobin level among diabetic cases developing renal impairment. Conclusions: Reduction of gut microbial products-SCFAs among DKD cases, indicating the a relationship between SCFAs as well as renal functions in DKD. Being a primary metabolite of microbiota-mediated fibre fermentation process within the gut, SCFAs may have a beneficial effect on the kidney.