ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL (VITAMINE) FOR CONDITIONS ASSOC W/ CHRONIC RENAL INSUFFICIENCY

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high prevalence of heart disease as a result of narrowing of arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. This disease process is associated with increased production of potentially harmful substances in the blood collectively termed "oxidative stress." It is our hypothesis that antioxidant therapy such as vitamin E may serve to attenuate the oxidative stress that characterizes kidney failure even before the start of dialysis with the potential of ameliorating or at least slowing the progression of this disease process. The intervention that we aim to study is a 3-month course of antioxidant treatment with vitamin E in a dose of 800 IU per day. The groups of patients to be studied are 35 normal controls and 35 patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (non-diabetic). It is not a randomized trial and no placebo control is being used. The outcomes are 1) change in levels of markers of oxidative stress (primary outcome), 2) endothelial function and advanced glycation in the blood (secondary outcomes). Urine will also be tested both at baseline and at end of study to measure markers of oxidative stress, advanced glycation, markers of podocyte (a type of cell in the kidney) injury and routine chemistries. From the results of this study we will draw conclusions regarding the potential role of vitamin E treatment chronic kidney disease, especially before the initiation of dialysis therapy. This may have a bearing on future clinical trials in this patient population.