title: Dietary interventions to contrast the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy: A critical survey of new data.
abstract: This article is a critical overview of recent contributions on the dietary corrections and the foods that have been claimed to delay or hinder the onset of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its progression to end-stage renal disease. Innovative dietary and behavioral approaches to the prevention and therapy of DN appear to be the most captivating in consideration of the rather well-established protocols for glucose and blood pressure control in use. In addition to restricted caloric intake to contrast obesity and the metabolic syndrome, adjustments in the patient's macronutrients intake, and in particular some degree of reduction in protein, have been long considered in the prevention of DN progression. More recently, the focus has shifted to the source of proteins and the content of glycotoxins in the diet as well as to the role of specific micronutrients. Few clinical trials have specifically addressed the role of those micronutrients associated with diet proteins that show the most protective effect against DN. Research on clinical outcome and mechanisms of action of such micronutrients appears the most promising in order to develop both effective intervention on nutritional education of the patient and selection of functional foods capable of contrasting the onset and progression of DN.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine , "La Sapienza" University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7328-2385
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine , "La Sapienza" University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0737-1213
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iacobini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine , "La Sapienza" University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1574-0397
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.affiliation: b DINOGMI, University of Genoa Medical School , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4326-0107
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pesce
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome; D009765:Obesity
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; advanced glycation end-products (AGEs); diet; inflammation; nephropathy; protein intake