Background/Aims: 

Gum arabic (GA) is a Ca²⁺-, Mg²⁺- and K⁺-rich dietary fiber used for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease in Middle Eastern countries. In healthy mice, GA treatment increases creatinine clearance, renal ADH excretion, as well as intestinal and renal excretion of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺. GA decreases plasma Pi concentration, urinary P_i and Na⁺ excretion. The present study explored the effects of GA on renal function in diabetic mice.

Methods: 

Metabolic cage experiments were performed in Akita mice (akita^+/­), which spontaneously develop insulin deficiency and thus hyperglycemia. Plasma and urinary concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ were measured by flame photometry (AFM 5051, Eppendorf, Germany), creatinine by the Jaffé method, phosphate photometrically, urea by an enzymatic method, glucose utilizing a glucometer and an enzymatic kit, aldosterone using a RIA, urinary albumin fluorometrically, and the blood pressure by the tail cuff method.

Results: 

GA (10% in drinking water) significantly increased urinary excretion of Ca²⁺ and significantly decreased plasma phosphate and urea concentrations, urinary flow rate, urinary Na⁺, phosphate and glucose excretion, blood pressure and proteinuria.

Conclusions: 

GA treatment decreases blood pressure and proteinuria in diabetic mice and may thus prove beneficial in diabetic nephropathy.