The effect of dietary flaxseed supplementation on organic anion and osmolyte content and excretion in rat polycystic kidney disease

Progression of chronic renal failure in the Han:SPRD-cy rat polycystic kidney disease is associated with renal depletion of citric acid cycle metabolites and betaine. Amelioration of this disease by a soy protein diet is associated with retention of citric acid cycle anions, despite increased excretion, and preservation of tissue levels of betaine. As we have recently found that modest dietary supplementation with flaxseed preserves renal function and reduces histologic injury in the Han:SPRD-cy rat, we undertook a high-resolution H-1 NMR spectroscopic study of urine and renal tissue extracts from Han:SPRD-cy rats to explore the renal biochemical consequences of a flaxseed diet. There was no significant dietary effect upon organic anion, methylamine, or osmolyte excretion in healthy animals. There was increased citrate excretion in Han:SPRD-cy rats fed flaxseed. Urinary ammonium excretion did not differ, suggesting that the observed increase in citrate excretion was not due to an alkaline effect of diet. Tissue extract studies revealed that disease amelioration was associated with tissue retention of succinate and betaine. Amelioration of Han:SPRD-cy rat polycystic kidney disease by diet is associated with alteration in the handling of citric acid cycle metabolites. Betaine may have a metabolic role in the reduction of chronic renal injury.