Dietary Soy Protein as Anticataractogenic Agent: An Experimental Study in Diabetic Animals
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- Category: Vol. 79, March 2011
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Dietary Soy Protein as Anticataractogenic Agent: An Experimental Study in Diabetic Animals,NADIA S. AHMED, MARGERET A. AZIZ, LAILA H. EL-SHAZLY and AMANY H. EL-SHAZLY
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the anticataract potential of dietary soy protein as a phytoestrogen on diabetic induced cataract in rats. Also, its role in improving the lipid profile and glucose metabolism was evaluated.
Forty Wistar strain male rats were divided into 4 groups; ten rats each. Group 1 received control diet (containing casein), group 2 received control diet and diabetes was induced chem-ically by intraperitoneal injection of 65mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Group 3 received diet containing 200g/kg soy protein instead of casein. In Group 4, diabetes was induced and rats were fed 200g/kg soy protein. After a period of 12 weeks, body weights, ophthalmic examination and biochemical pa-rameters were estimated. The diabetic model (group 2) exhib-ited cataract in 100% of rats with increased malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased non-protein bound thiol reduced glutathione (GSH), elevated aldose reductase and impaired antioxidant status. It demonstrated body weight reduction with elevated serum glucose level and elevated lipids such as cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). In soybean fed diabetic rats of group 4, cataractous changes were observed in 70% rats with later onset than group 2. There was reduction of MDA with enhancement of antioxidants levels and inhibition of aldose reductase enzyme activity. Body weight, serum glucose level and lipids profile approached the normal levels as compared to the control (group 1). In conclusion, inhibition of peroxidation markers and up regu-lation of antioxidant activity of rat lens by soy protein sup-plementation signified the potential utility of soy protein as an anticataractogenic agent in diabetic rats, although its mode of action has not yet known.