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Experimental Animal Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P15-001-25) Hyperproteinemia Poses Hepatonephrotoxic Effects and Vasculometabolic Risks in Diabetic Rats Fed With a High Protein Diet

Sunday, June 1, 2025
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board B-16
Disclosure(s):
Magnus Michael Chukwudike Anyakudo, MBBS, M.Sc, Ph.D, B.Th, FRHD, FIPMD, Cert., Diploma: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Associations between high protein diets and a range of functional and morphological changes in organ physiology and histoarchitecture have been reported to be of public health importance. This experimentally-controlled nutritional study, which lasted eight weeks, aimed to determine the effects of high dietary protein intake on selected biochemical variables, renal and hepatic histoarchitectures, and body and organ anthropometry in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Thirty-six (36) male Wistar rats (w.t ≥ 200g, each) were randomly categorized into four experimental groups (n = 9, each): Normal (NC) and Diabetic (DC) control fed with standard rat feed; Normal (NH) and Diabetic (DH) fed with high protein diet. Diabetes was inducted with a solution of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg). Rats were fed throughout the study according to the experimental design with water ad libitum. Body weights with blood samples were taken to analyze total plasma protein – TP, Blood Urea - BU, and hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, and GGT) concentrations. Organs were extracted for gross and histological analysis after sacrificing under anesthesia. Microsoft Excel and statistical program SPSS version 22 were used to analyze the data. P values < 0.05 were set as significant.

Results: In diabetic rats, high-protein diet intake caused significant (p = 0.004) reduction in body weight (DH: -4.13% Vs DC: - 26.86% ), increased organ (liver and kidney) weight (20%) and elevated hepatic enzymes (AST - DH: 208.55 U/L Vs DC: 158.25 U/L; ALT - DH: 60.68 U/L Vs DC: 32.5 U/L) with associated uremia (BU – DH: 97.30 mg/dL Vs DC: 81.28 mg/dL) and hyperproteinemia (TP – DH: 11.42 g/dL Vs DC: 7.21 g/dL). 33.3% mortality was recorded with autopsy and histological analysis revealing hepatonephromegally with varying hepatorenal histopathologic and vascular changes.

Conclusions: Hyperproteinaemia poses hepatonephrotoxic effects and vasculometabolic risks in diabetic rats fed with a high protein diet.

Funding Sources: The research study was self-sponsored.