Inhibitory effect of resveratrol on proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia in nephritic rats

The effect of resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound present in grapes and ot her plants, on proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia was studied in rats with glomerulonephritis. The nephritis was induced by an intravenou s injection of anti-rat kidney glomerular basement membrane rabbit antiseru m. Nephritic rats were given oral intubation of resveratrol (5 mg/day/100g body weight) for 14 days, while control nephritic rats as well as normal on es were similarly given vehicle alone. By resveratrol treatment, enlargemen t in liver and kidney due to nephritis induction was significantly reduced, together with partial restoration of nephritis-induced reduction in body w eight gain. Both proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, characteristic symptoms t o nephrotic syndrome, were significantly remedied, that is, urinary protein excretion was suppressed and serum albumin concentration was increased by resveratrol treatment. Resveratrol also suppressed significantly hyperlipid emia incident to nephritis, the hypotriglyceridemic action being more promi nent than the hypocholesterolemic one. From these results, resveratrol is s uggested to be a potent anti-glomerulonephritic food factor capable of supp ressing proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia at the same time. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. Ail rights reserved.