EFFECT OF DIETARY-PROTEIN RESTRICTION ON PROTEINURIA IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS WITH NEPHROPATHY

To determine the effectiveness of dietary protein restriction on proteinuria in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM), 14 diabetic patients with overt nephropathy were placed on either a low protein diet (N=7) or conventional protein diet (N=7) for one month. After the study period, daily urinary protein excretion rates decreased significantly, from 3.2+/-0.4 to 1.9+/-0.4 g/day, and serum albumin levels increased from 3.3+/-0.2 to 3.7+/-0.5 g/dl only in the low protein diet group, without any significant changes in either serum creatinine levels or creatinine clearance. These findings suggest that dietary protein restriction has a beneficial role in the treatment of NIDDM patients with overt nephropathy.