Nephro‐protective effects of alpha‐lipoic acid in type I diabetes

Abstract

AbstractType 1 diabetes (T1D) is an insulin‐dependent autoimmune condition. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are volatile fatty acids with 1–6 carbon atoms that influence glucose storage in the body and can reduce appetite, potentially decreasing T1D risk. Alpha‐lipoic acid (α‐LA), a type of SCFA, has previously been used to treat diabetic neuropathy and inflammation due to its antioxidant properties. This study aims to assess α‐LA's protective effects against T1D and associated kidney damage in rats induced with streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were treated with α‐LA orally for 15 days, resulting in improved blood glucose (56% decrease) and kidney function markers like blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid. α‐LA also showed significant antioxidant effects by decreasing LPO as well as improving activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione‐S transferase and alleviated kidney damage caused by diabetes. Docking experiments suggest that α‐LA may regulate diabetes‐related changes at the epigenetic level through interactions with the SIRT1 protein, indicating its potential as a target for future antidiabetic drug development.