Nephroprotective Impact of Fermented Kefir Laban in Type I Diabetic Rats: Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Pathways

With diabetes cases soaring worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia, researchers are focusing on probiotic-rich foods like fermented kefir laban (FKL) as a potential way to prevent its complications. FKL's unique mix of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and immune-boosting abilities make it a promising option for preventative healthcare. This investigation aimed to elucidate the influence of FKL administration on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic rats, with the primary objective of assessing its potential renoprotective effects. Diabetes was induced by Streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg) intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Forty rats were assigned to four groups: (1) control, (2) diabetic, (3 and 4) diabetic + 2 and and 4 ml FKL /200 g body weight daily, respectively by oral administration for 35 days. Serum glucose, insulin, renal function, antioxidants, and pro-inflammatory cytokine markers were assessed. Besides, the renal histopathological changes were examined. FKL administration exhibited potent hypoglycemic and renoprotective effects, evidenced by significant reductions in serum glucose, urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels.  FKL also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in serum insulin. Furthermore, FKL suppressed the diabetes-induced inflammation, as indicated by decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations.  Interestingly, FKL significantly reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) while concomitantly increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Additionally, FKL mitigated diabetic-induced histopathological alterations in the renal, with the most pronounced effects observed in the group receiving the highest FKL dose. These findings suggest a potential role of FKL in modulating multiple pathways involved in preventing diabetic nephropathy.