Benefits of a 12-week lifestyle modification program including diet and combined aerobic and resistance exercise on albuminuria in diabetic and non-diabetic Japanese populations

Effectiveness of DialBetesPlus, a self-management support system for diabetic kidney disease: Randomized controlled trial

We evaluated the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention for diabetic kidney disease patients by conducting a 12-month randomized controlled trial among 126 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with moderately increased albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR): 30-299 mg/g creatinine) recruited from eight clinical sites in Japan. Using a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) behavior change theory framework, the intervention provides patients detailed information in order to improve patient control over exercise and dietary behaviors. In addition to standard care, the intervention group received DialBetesPlus, a self-management support system allowing patients to monitor exercise, blood glucose, diet, blood pressure, and body weight via a smartphone application. The primary outcome, change in UACR after 12 months (used as a surrogate measure of renal function), was 28.8% better than the control group's change (P = 0.029). Secondary outcomes also improved in the intervention group, including a 0.32-point better change in HbA1c percentage (P = 0.041). These improvements persisted when models were adjusted to account for the impacts of coadministration of drugs targeting albuminuria (GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs) (UACR: -32.3% [95% CI: -49.2%, -9.8%] between-group difference in change, P = 0.008). Exploratory multivariate regression analysis suggests that the improvements were primarily due to levels of exercise. This is the first trial to show that a lifestyle intervention via mHealth achieved a clinically-significant improvement in moderately increased albuminuria.

Physical Training Is a Potential Modifier of Risk for Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Diabetes Mellitus

Background

Iodinated contrast (IC) is a leading cause of hospital-based acute kidney injury (AKI). Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a decline in renal function due to iodinated contrast administration and occurs more frequently in individuals with increasingly common risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus (DM). Physical training (PT) can have renoprotective effects on CI-AKI in diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the injury in kidneys of diabetic rats submitted to treatment with IC, evaluating the impact of PT on hemodynamics and renal function in addition to oxidative profile in diabetic rats submitted to IC-AKI.

Materials and Methods

Adult male Wistar rats are randomized into four groups: citrate (n = 7): control group, citrate buffer (streptozotocin-STZ vehicle), intravenous tail (iv), single dose; DM (n = 7): STZ, 60 mg/kg, iv, single dose; DM+IC (n = 7): DM rats treated with IC (sodium meglumine ioxithalamate, 6 mL/kg, intraperitoneal (ip), single dose); DM+IC+PT (n = 7): DM rats treated with IC as mentioned and submitted to physical training. Renal function parameters (inulin clearance, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), serum creatinine, and urinary albumin), hemodynamics (renal blood flow and renal vascular resistance), and oxidative profile (urinary peroxides, urinary TBARS, urinary nitric oxide, and renal tissue thiols) were evaluated.

Results

It was possible to observe a decrease in inulin clearance, renal blood flow, and thiols in renal tissue accompanied by an increase in urinary flow, serum creatinine, urinary albumin, renal vascular resistance, urinary peroxides, urinary nitrate, and TBARS in the DM group compared to the citrate group. The DM+IC group showed a reduction in inulin clearance, and the renal dysfunction was also seen by the increased NGAL. Renal hemodynamics and oxidative profile compared were also worsened in the DM group. PT improved renal function by increasing renal blood flow and thiol levels in renal tissue and reduced renal vascular resistance, metabolites of reactive oxygen, nitrogen species, and lipid peroxidation in the DM+IC+PT group compared to DM+IC.

Conclusions

Our results confirmed that DM induction increases renal vulnerability to the toxicity of IC and an association between DM with IC predisposes to severe AKI with reduced renal function alongside with renal hemodynamic alterations and oxidative mechanism of injury. The PT showed a renoprotective effect in DM animals subjected to damage with IC by modulating renal hemodynamics and oxidative profile, confirming a potential to modify the risk of CI-AKI when diabetes mellitus is present.

Influence of exercise training on diabetic kidney disease: A brief physiological approach

IMPACT STATEMENT

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is associated with increased mortality in diabetic patients and has a negative impact on public health. The identification of potential therapies that help the management of DKD can contribute to the improvement of health and quality of life of patients. Thus, this paper is timely and relevant because, in addition to presenting a concise review of the pathogenesis and major pathophysiological mechanisms of DKD, it addresses the most recent findings on the impact of exercise training on this disease. Thus, since non-pharmacological interventions have gained increasing attention in the fight against chronic diseases, this paper appears as an important tool to increase knowledge and stimulate innovative research on the impact of exercise on kidney disease.

Adherence to low-sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-style diet may decrease the risk of incident chronic kidney disease among high-risk patients: a secondary prevention in prospective cohort study

Background

Considering the fact that subjects with dysglycemia, dyslipidemia or high blood pressure are at high risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), long-term adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style diet may contribute to the prevention of CKD. This study, examined the association between adherence to the low-sodium DASH-style diet and incident CKD among high-risk adults over 3 years of follow-up.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study (followed up for 3 years, 2012-15), we selected 1100 subjects with dysglycemia, 2715 with dyslipidemia and 2089 with high blood pressure, all of whom were free of CKD at baseline (2009-11) in a subgroup of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. The low-sodium DASH-style diet was designed based on eight foods and nutrients using a food frequency questionnaire. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated and CKD was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Results

After 3 years of follow-up, among subjects with dysglycemia, dyslipidemia or high blood pressure, the rate of incident CKD was ∼16%. In multivariable-adjusted analyses for participants in the highest compared with the lowest quartile of the low-sodium DASH-style diet score, the odds ratio was 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.92] for subjects with dysglycemia, 0.64 (95% CI 0.48-0.87) for subjects with dyslipidemia and 0.62 (95% CI 0.44-0.87) for subjects with high blood pressure.

Conclusions

Higher adherence to the low-sodium DASH-style diet might be associated with a lower risk of incident CKD among high-risk adults, highlighting the importance of adherence to the low-sodium DASH-style diet in substantially reducing both the occurrence of CKD and the burden imposed by it in the future.

Relationship between the exposure to cumulative cardiovascular health behaviors and factors and chronic kidney disease-The Kailuan study

It is unclear whether ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) behaviors and factors, particularly cumulative exposure to ideal CVH (cumCVH), is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of the study was to examine the effect of cumCVH on CKD using the data from the Kailuan study. The study included the 27,970 (21,199 males) of the Kailuan community (China). The participants were 19 to 98 years of age. They were followed in 2008-2009, 2010-2011, and 2012-2013 by the same medical staff that did the initial physical examinations in 2006-2007. Participants were censored on the visit reporting CKD. A CVH score was created based on the seven AHA health metrics. The cumCVH score was CVH1×timev1-v2+CVH2×timev2-v3+CVH3×timev3-v4. In the fully adjusted model, compared with the lowest quintile of cumCVH, individuals in the highest quintile had a 75% lower risk of CKD (95% confidence interval (CI): 66-82%). Every additional year lived with a 1-unit increase in ideal CVH was associated with an 11% (95% CI: 9-13%) reduction in the incidence of CKD. Furthermore, when we excluded each of the six metrics from the cumCVH score in turn, the association was unaffected after the exclusion of individual risk factors. Ideal CVH is associated with a reduced incidence of CKD. Measurements of cumCVH are more likely to reflect the lifetime risk of CKD and possibly of other health outcomes.

Microalbuminuria is a late event in patients with hypertension: Do we need a lower threshold?

Background

Microalbuminuria (MA) is a marker of vascular damage. However, many studies have observed an increased risk at lower levels of albuminuria than are currently used to define MA.

Aim

To verify early cardiovascular changes occurring before MA in hypertensive patients.

Materials and methods

One hundred and fifty hypertensive patients and 60 normotensive individuals were divided into normotensive individuals with normal left ventricular (LV) geometry (Group I), hypertensive patients with normal LV geometry (Group II), and hypertensive patients with abnormal LV geometry (Group III). The LV mass index, ambulatory arterial stiffness index, flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid were assessed. Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was determined using a morning spot-urine sample.

Results

Compared with Group I, ambulatory arterial stiffness index and IMT were significantly increased and flow-mediated dilatation was significantly decreased in Group II; however, MA did not differ between both groups. These changes were augmented when Group III was compared with Group II. MA significantly increased in Group III compared with Group II. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that MA, with a cut-off value of 19.25 mg/g, predicted increased IMT, and abnormal LV geometry in a statistically significant manner.

Conclusion

Many vascular changes, in the form of increased IMT, reduced vasodilator capacity, and increased arterial stiffness, preceded MA and any change in LV geometry. The results presented here strengthen the usefulness of adopting a lower cut-off to define MA.

Weight loss interventions and progression of diabetic kidney disease

Progressive renal impairment (diabetic kidney disease (DKD)) occurs in upwards of 40 % of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Means of attenuating the progression of DKD focus on amelioration of risk factors. Visceral obesity is implicated as a causative agent in impaired metabolic and cardiovascular control in T2DM, and various approaches primarily targeting weight have been examined for their impact on markers of renal injury and dysfunction in DKD. The current report summarises the evidence base for the impact of surgical, lifestyle and pharmacological approaches to weight loss on renal end points in DKD. The potential for a threshold of weight loss more readily achievable by surgical intervention to be a prerequisite for renal improvement is highlighted. Comparing efficacious non-surgical weight loss strategies with surgical strategies in appropriately powered and controlled prospective studies is a priority for the field.