Journal of Basic Research in Medical Sciences
J Basic Res Med Sci
Volume 13, Issue 3 (6-2026)
jbrms 2026, 13(3): 19-29 |
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Mohammadi R, Vatannejad A, Kheirollahi A, Shokrpoor S, RahimBakhsh A, Sedighi Pashaki T. Effects of Folate supplementation on the kidney in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. jbrms 2026; 13 (3) :19-29
URL: http://jbrms.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-1062-en.html
URL: http://jbrms.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-1062-en.html
Rahman Mohammadi 
, Akram Vatannejad , Asma Kheirollahi , Sara Shokrpoor , AmirHossein RahimBakhsh , Tahmoures Sedighi Pashaki
, Akram Vatannejad , Asma Kheirollahi , Sara Shokrpoor , AmirHossein RahimBakhsh , Tahmoures Sedighi Pashaki
Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran , vatannejad@ut.ac.ir
Abstract: (227 Views)
Introduction: Diabetes causes the body’s metabolic balance to be in disarray, which damages organs such as the kidneys due to their high metabolic activity. Tissue damage is caused by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Folate may help protect against diabetes complications by reducing oxidative stress, regulating homocysteine and supporting vascular and kidney health. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the effects of daily folate supplementation on glycaemic control, oxidative stress and renal dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Materials & Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The first group included healthy control rats, and the second included untreated diabetic rats. The third group received daily IP injections of folate for four weeks. Fasting blood glucose was measured using a glucometer. Oxidative stress was measured in the renal tissue and serum by determining the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS), respectively. Renal histopathological changes were examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining. The data were analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The results showed that folate reduced renal tissue MDA and serum triglyceride levels. Fasting blood glucose and serum TOS showed a decreasing trend, but the changes were not statistically significant. The tissue analysis showed slight improvements in kidney structure, but no full recovery was observed.
Conclusion: These data suggest that folate supplementation may provide some protection against renal injury due to diabetes. The effect on glycaemic control and full recovery of renal tissue appeared to be limited. These findings highlight the need for further studies to determine whether the combination of folate with other therapies could improve glycaemic control and promote tissue repair more effectively
Materials & Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The first group included healthy control rats, and the second included untreated diabetic rats. The third group received daily IP injections of folate for four weeks. Fasting blood glucose was measured using a glucometer. Oxidative stress was measured in the renal tissue and serum by determining the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS), respectively. Renal histopathological changes were examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining. The data were analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The results showed that folate reduced renal tissue MDA and serum triglyceride levels. Fasting blood glucose and serum TOS showed a decreasing trend, but the changes were not statistically significant. The tissue analysis showed slight improvements in kidney structure, but no full recovery was observed.
Conclusion: These data suggest that folate supplementation may provide some protection against renal injury due to diabetes. The effect on glycaemic control and full recovery of renal tissue appeared to be limited. These findings highlight the need for further studies to determine whether the combination of folate with other therapies could improve glycaemic control and promote tissue repair more effectively
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Clinical Biochemistry
Received: 2025/12/14 | Accepted: 2026/04/6 | Published: 2026/06/16
Received: 2025/12/14 | Accepted: 2026/04/6 | Published: 2026/06/16
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