Evaluating the Renoprotective Effect of Milk Thistle Extract on Patients With Type II Diabetic Nephropathy

Summary

There is considerable evidence that increased blood glucose results in the generation of reactive oxygen species, ultimately leading to increased oxidative stress in a variety of tissues. This may lead to the activation of stress-sensitive intracellular signaling pathways, causing cellular damage and late complications of diabetes including renal injury. Although the investigators understanding of how hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress ultimately leads to tissue damage has advanced considerably in recent years, effective therapeutic strategies to prevent or delay the development of this damage remain limited. The flavonoid complex silymarin, an extract from the milk thistle, and its major pharmacological active component silibinin are free radical scavengers and potent membrane stabilizers by preventing lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, during early stages of diabetes, flavonoids minimize oxidative stress, and inflammation which represent important factors in the development of diabetic nephropathy. In this study the investigators plan to evaluate the renoprotective effect of milk thistle extract on type II diabetic patients with kidney disease.

Timeline

Start

2010-10

Primary completion

2011-10

Completion

2011-11

Publications

• Colombijn JM, Hooft L, Jun M, Webster AC, Bots ML, Verhaar MC, Vernooij RW. Antioxidants for adults with chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Nov 2;11(11):CD008176. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008176.pub3.
• Fallahzadeh MK, Dormanesh B, Sagheb MM, Roozbeh J, Vessal G, Pakfetrat M, Daneshbod Y, Kamali-Sarvestani E, Lankarani KB. Effect of addition of silymarin to renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients with overt nephropathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Kidney Dis. 2012 Dec;60(6):896-903. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.06.005. Epub 2012 Jul 7.

Drugs

Indications