Conclusion
The results obtained in this study show that Kefir treatment significantly
reduced the progression of STZ-induced hyperglycemia
and oxidative stress in rats. Thus, Kefir may play a role in slowing
the metabolic changes that contribute to DN.
Metabolic profile, renal function, and oxidative stress before Kefir
treatment
The parameters of the rats after the 5th day of diabetes induction
are shown in Table 1. DM animals demonstrated significant
differences in all parameters, except for plasmatic TBARS. These
animals showed significant increases in water and chow intake,
diuresis, fasting blood glucose, plasmatic urea and creatinine, and
excretion of proteinuria and TBARS. In contrast, DM rats had a decrease
in body weight, urinary urea and creatinine, and plasmatic
and urinary NO when compared to CTL rats.
The changes in metabolic variables, renal function, and oxidative
stress after 8 weeks of Kefir treatment are shown in Table 2.
Kefir administration did not cause difference in any of these
parameters in the CTLK group. The control and diabetic groups
showed significant differences in the following parameters: water
and chow intake, diuresis and weight gain. However, in the DMK
group, these parameters were significantly decreased when
compared to the DM group; an exception was weight gain, which
was higher in DMK animals than in DM animals.