L-Tryptophan Reduces Creatinine Clearance In Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Previous studies on type I diabetes have shown that toxic effects by free radicals are involved in the damage to the renal system. Tryptophan is known to have antioxidant effect and is a precursor of melatonin which is a powerful antioxidant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of tryptophan in mitigating renal damage in type I diabetic rats. Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Control, Untreated Diabetic and Tryptophan-treated Diabetic. Weight change, fasting blood glucose, urinary albumin excretion and creatinine clearance were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. It was found that tryptophan treatment reduced the urinary albumin excretion and creatinine clearance in diabetic rats (p<0.05). However, the urinary albumin excretion and creatinine clearance were still higher than in the control rats. Treatment with tryptophan slightly reduced the fasting blood glucose in rats, this was however not statistically significant. There was an increase in weight in rats treated with tryptophan compared to the untreated diabetic rats, however, this was not statistically significant. It was therefore concluded that oral tryptophan treatment might improve renal disturbances in early type I diabetes mellitus.

The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol 19 No 1 (January 2012)