N-Acetylcysteine and Milk Thistle for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy.
N-Acetylcysteine and Milk Thistle for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy.
The study is designed to test if the combination of two potent antioxidant nutritional supplements, N-acetylcysteine and the milk thistle extract silibin, is capable of correcting the shedding of urine protein, the oxidative stress, and the inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease.
Oxidative stress and GSH imbalance are major contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Current options for the treatment of oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy are limited and only partially effective, thus interest in the development of new strategies is high.
The study intends to test the hypothesis that combined oral supplementation of the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and milk thistle flavonolignan silibin (as silibin-phosphatidylcholine) will reduce proteinuria and urinary and systemic manifestations of oxidative stress and inflammation, which are characteristically observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related nephropathy. We expect these effects to be achieved with minimal or no side effects, and with good patient tolerance.
The trial is designed as a two-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, modified-factorial dose-ranging design, five-arm pilot study in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and advanced diabetic nephropathy with proteinuria.
Intervention consists of three-month oral administration of NAC, silibin, and/or respective placebos for three months. Subjects are randomized to the following five intervention arms: (A) placebo; (B) NAC; (C) silibin; (D) NAC + silibin; and (E) NAC + double-dose silibin.
The primary outcome measure is urinary excretion of albumin, a marker of glomerular injury. Secondary outcome measures are alpha-1 microglobulin, a marker of tubular injury, and urinary excretion of inflammatory cytokines and C-C chemokines, i.e. markers of renal inflammation. In addition, peripheral blood monocytes from the same patients are analyzed for glutathione (GSH) content and activity of GSH metabolizing enzymes. All outcome measures are monitored in relation to both treatment allocation and prevalent blood and urine levels of the active treatment. Safety and tolerability of this combination treatment are monitored throughout the trial.
Inclusion Criteria:
Males or females, age 18-70 years old.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Diabetic nephropathy, as defined by:
Current medical treatment with low dose aspirin
Treatment of hypertension with (but not limited to) one diuretic, one beta- blocker and one medication from the classes ARBs or ACE inhibitors.
Treatment of hyperglycemia with (but not limited to) glipizide and the medication class insulin.
Treatment of hypercholesterolemia with (but not limited to) one medication from the class statins.
Exclusion Criteria:
Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) > 10%
>20% variation in estimated GFR, during last 6 months
SBP >170 mmHg or DBP >100 mmHg on medications
Other secondary forms of hypertension (endocrine, renovascular)
History of intolerance to:
Known non diabetic renal disease, or history of solid organ transplantation.
Hepatitis virus or Human Immunodeficiency virus infections
Use of one of the following medications within 2 months prior to enrollment in the study:
Active coronary artery disease or cerebral vascular disease within 3 months prior to signing the informed consent.
Hepatic dysfunction as defined by abnormal total bilirubin or liver enzymes (ALT, AST) >2 times upper limit of normal range.
Active malignancy.
History of drug or alcohol dependency.
Psychiatric or neurological condition, preventing aware consent to the study and/or adherence to the study protocol
Unwillingness to practice birth control throughout the study.
Participation to another clinical study within 1 month prior to signing the informed consent form.
Planned move to outside the study area, surgery or radiographic studies utilizing iodine-based contrast material within the next one year