Drug Proven to Provide Diabetic Nephropathy Relief

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the ability for dapagliflozin, a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, to effectively ease diabetic nephropathy, according to lead author Takashi Hatanaka of Nagoya University. The study will be presented in a poster session on June 6 at the American Diabetes Association 75^th Scientific Sessions in Boston, MA.

The team’s previous research showed that dapagliflozin helps protect against diabetic nephropathy. In order to get a full understanding on whether the drug works directly through the kidney, the team studied the effects of the inhibitor as well as insulin.

Eight-week old Akita mice were used and either received 1.0 mg/kg of dapagliflozin or insulin for 12 weeks. The authors noted that titrated insulin doses were used in the untreated group so that blood glucose levels could be proportionate to those in the dapagliflozin group.

“Compared with non-treated Akita mice, dapagliflozin and insulin equally decreased blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels,” the team explained.

While there were not any differences in body weight, creatinine clearance, and blood pressure between the two treated groups, the mice that received dapagliflozin had greater water intake and urine. The dapagliflozin group also showed the greatest improved urinary albumin excretion.

“Our study demonstrated that the inhibition of SGLT2 by dapagliflozin alleviates diabetic nephropathy directly by inhibiting oxidative stress in diabetic Akita mice,” the study concluded.