The Effects of Low and Normal Protein Soyabean Based Diets on Chronic Renal Insufficiency in Rats

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of two different levels of soyabean-based protein intake on chronic renal insufficiency in Sprague-Dawley strain albino rats. An experiment was conducted comparing the effects of the consumption, for six months, of soybeans at 21 % protein (normal protein, or NP) and 14% protein (low protein, or LP) on the food intake, body weight, urinary output, proteinuria, blood urea and serum creatinine levels of 12 nephrectomized rats (NR) and 12 normal rats used as control (CT). Statistical comparison of the results shows a reduction in food intake as well as less body-weight gain in the NR compared to the control (P=0.90·1). Also, the NR had a significant reduction in'-24-hour urinary output, elevated proteinuria, blood urea and serum creatinine than the control. The food intake of the nephrectomized rats on the normal protein diet (NR-NP), as well as their gain in body weight, were significantly lower than the nephrectomized rats on the low-protein diet (P=O.OO1). Blood urea and serum creatinine were also higher significantly in the NR-NP compared with the corresponding values in the NR-LP (P < 0.001). The study shows that controlled dietary restrictions using low-protein soybeans diet can be effective in ameliorating the effects of renal insufficiency without inducing malnutrition, as a low soya bean protein diet has maintained better food intake, body weight. blood urea and serum creatinine than normal soyabean protein diet in the nephrectornized rats.