EFFECT OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID ETHYL-ESTER ON ALBUMINURIA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Wistar rats (4-week-old) were administered with streptozotocin (45 mg/ kg) through tail veins. After 3 months, diabetic rats were divided int o 2 groups. One group (EPA group, n=16) was fed a lipid-free diet (90% , w/w) plus lard (8%) and 90% pure eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester ( 2%) for 6 months. The other group (control group, n = 16) was fed in t he same way except that eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester was replaced by safflower oil. Twenty-four-hour urine was collected just before st arting the experimental diets and during the 6-month experimental peri od at monthly intervals. There were no differences in food intake and body weight between the two groups throughout the experiment. The mean microalbuminuria of the EPA group became significantly lower than tha t of the control group after 4 months on the diets through the end of the study (6 months). The mean microalbuminuria levels at the end of t he study were 1.38 mg/day in the EPA group (n=9) and 5.19 mg/day in th e control group (n=6) (p<0.01). Eicosapentaenoic acid administration m ight retard the progression of diabetic nephropathy by reducing microa lbuminuria.