The study has been designed to investigate the effect of benfotiamine and fenofibrate in diabetes-induced experimental vascular
endothelial dysfunction (VED) and nephropathy. The single administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg, i.p.) produced
diabetes, which was noted to develop VED and nephropathy in 8 weeks. The diabetes produced VED by attenuating acetylcholine-induced
endothelium dependent relaxation, impairing the integrity of vascular endothelium, decreasing serum nitrite/nitrate concentration
and increasing serum TBARS and aortic superoxide anion generation. Further, diabetes altered the lipid profile by increasing
the serum cholesterol, triglycerides and decreasing the high density lipoprotein. The nephropathy was noted to be developed
in the diabetic rat that was assessed in terms of increase in serum creatinine, blood urea, proteinuria, and glomerular damage.
The benfotiamine (70 mg/kg, p.o.) and fenofibrate (32 mg/kg, p.o.) or lisinopril (1 mg/kg, p.o., a standard agent) treatments
were started in diabetic rats after 1 week of STZ administration and continued for 7 weeks. The treatment with benfotiamine
and fenofibrate either alone or in combination attenuated diabetes-induced VED and nephropathy. In addition, the combination
of benfotiamine and fenofibrate was noted to be more effective in attenuating the diabetes-induced VED and nephropathy when
compared to treatment with either drug alone or lisinopril. Treatment with fenofibrate normalizes the altered lipid profile
in diabetic rats, whereas benfotiamine treatment has no effect on lipid alteration in diabetic rats. It may be concluded that
diabetes-induced oxidative stress, lipids alteration, and consequent development of VED may be responsible for the induction
of nephropathy in diabetic rats. Concurrent administration of benfotiamine and fenofibrate may provide synergistic benefits
in preventing the development of diabetes-induced nephropathy by reducing the oxidative stress and lipid alteration, preventing
the VED and subsequently improving the renal function.
Keywords Diabetes - Oxidative stress - Vascular endothelial dysfunction - Nephropathy - Benfotiamine - Fenofibrate