Glucomannans Alleviated the Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease by Improving Kidney Metabolic Disturbance

SCOPE: This study is aimed to investigate the kidney protective effects of glucomannans from Dendrobium officinale stem, konjac, and Aloe vera leaves on type 2 diabetic rats and explore its potential mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pathological and metabolomics analysis methods are adopted in this study. Compared with the model group, lower levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and glycated serum protein are observed in glucomannan-treated groups. Concentrations of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and nonesterified fatty acid are significantly decreased by glucomannan treatment. Furthermore, glucomannan treatment significantly decreased the levels of uric acid, creatinine, urea in serum, and glycosuria, ketone body, and protein in the urine. Histopathological analysis showed that glucomannan treatment normalized the architecture of glomerulus. Metabolomic analysis indicated glucomannan treatment could improve urea cycle, metabolism of lipid, glucose, and amino acids on diabetes. In particular, the konjac glucomannan treatment is more effective in lipid and glucose regulation. Glucomannan from D. officinale is more effective in balancing the urea cycle and amino acid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The disturbance of lipid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism is closely associated with the advancement of diabetic kidney disease, and glucomannan treatment could be efficient in the management of diabetic kidney disease.