Citric acid inhibits development of cataracts, proteinuria and ketosis in streptozotocin (type 1) diabetic rats.

Abstract

Although many fruits such as lemon and orange contain citric acid, little is known about beneficial effects of citric acid on health. Here we measured the effect of citric acid on the pathogenesis of diabetic complications in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Although oral administration of citric acid to diabetic rats did not affect blood glucose concentration, it delayed the development of cataracts, inhibited accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) such as N(epsilon)-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) and N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) in lens proteins, and protected against albuminuria and ketosis. We also show that incubation of protein with acetol, a metabolite formed from acetone by acetone monooxygenase, generate CEL, suggesting that inhibition of ketosis by citric acid may lead to the decrease in CEL in lens proteins. These results demonstrate that the oral administration of citric acid ameliorates ketosis and protects against the development of diabetic complications in an animal model of type 1 diabetes.

• Authors: Ryoji Nagai, Mime Nagai, Satoko Shimasaki, John W Baynes, Yukio Fujiwara
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 393 Issue 1 Pg. 118-22 (Feb 26 2010) ISSN: 1090-2104 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20117096 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Crystallins
• Glycation End Products, Advanced
• Citric Acid
• Streptozocin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Albuminuria (etiology, prevention & control)
• Animals
• Blood Glucose (drug effects)
• Body Weight
• Cataract (etiology, prevention & control)
• Citric Acid (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Crystallins (metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental (complications)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (complications)
• Glycation End Products, Advanced (metabolism)
• Ketosis (etiology, prevention & control)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Streptozocin