This study was designed to determine the protective effect of kefir on the oxidative damage, as well as histological and biochemical changes that occur in the kidney tissues of experimental diabetic rats. Forty rats were allocated into four groups as “healthy saline” (SF), “healthy kefir” (KF), and the same groups with experimentally induced diabetes (DSF and DKF). Diabetes was induced by administering 65 mg/kg single-dose streptozotocin. Oral kefir was given 10 ml/kg/day for 35 days to the rats in the groups KF and DKF. The same amount of saline was given to the groups SF and DSF. On the 36th day of the study, blood glucose, urea, and creatinine were measured besides glucose, creatinine, microalbuminuria, and sodium in the urine. Additionally, histological examination was performed on the kidney tissues. Blood glucose, creatinine, and urea levels were significantly lower in the DKF group compared with those of the DSF group (p < 0.001). Also, the creatinine level was significantly decreased (p < 0.001), and microalbuminuria was increased (p < 0.001) in the DKF group compared with that of the DSF group. Histologically, intermittent expansion in the renal glomeruli, reduction of cast formation in the tubules, and improvement in the renal epithelial tissues of the DKF group were observed. Kefir decreased the damage caused by diabetes. These results indicate that kefir supplementation may contribute to better control of oxidative stress, which is related to the improvement of renal functions, suggesting its use to slow down the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

本研究旨在确定开菲尔对实验性糖尿病大鼠肾脏组织中发生的氧化损伤以及组织学和生化变化的保护作用。40 只大鼠被分为四组：“健康盐水”（SF）、“健康开菲尔”（KF）和相同的实验诱导糖尿病组（DSF 和 DKF）。通过给予 65 mg/kg 单剂量链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病。KF和DKF组大鼠口服开菲尔10毫升/公斤/天，持续35天。SF和DSF组给予相同量的盐水。在研究的第 36 天，除了尿中的葡萄糖、肌酐、微量白蛋白尿和钠之外，还测量了血糖、尿素和肌酐。此外，对肾组织进行了组织学检查。血糖、肌酐、p  < 0.001)。此外， 与 DSF 组相比，DKF 组的肌酐水平显着降低（p  < 0.001），微量白蛋白尿增加（p < 0.001）。在组织学上，观察到 DKF 组肾小球间歇性扩张、肾小管管型形成减少和肾上皮组织改善。开菲尔减少了糖尿病造成的损害。这些结果表明，开菲尔补充剂可能有助于更好地控制氧化应激，这与肾功能的改善有关，表明其可用于减缓糖尿病肾病的进展。