title: Effects of gum arabic (Acacia senegal) on renal function in diabetic mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gum arabic (GA) is a Ca(2+)-, Mg(2+)- 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 Mg(2+) and Ca(2+). GA decreases plasma Pi concentration, urinary Pi and Na(+) excretion. The present study explored the effects of GA on renal function in diabetic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metabolic cage experiments were performed on Akita mice (akita(+/-)), which spontaneously develop insulin deficiency and thus hyperglycemia. Plasma and urinary concentrations of Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+) 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 an RIA, urinary albumin fluorometrically, and blood pressure by the tail-cuff method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GA (10% in drinking water) significantly increased urinary excretion of Ca(2+) 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.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Omaima
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.forename: Anja T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Umbach
authors.forename: Rexhep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rexhepaj
authors.forename: Teresa F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: Madhuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhandaru
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.forename: Ferruh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artunc
authors.forename: Daniela S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kempe
authors.forename: Goverdhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puchchakayala
authors.forename: Balasaheb
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siraskar
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Föller
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006170:Gum Arabic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D006170:Gum Arabic; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium