Future of Interventions in Diabetic Nephropathy: Antioxidants

Department of Pharmacology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea D iabetic nephropathy is one of the major long-term complications of diabetes mellitus and has emerged as a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in certain parts of the world (1) including Korea (2). Data from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (3) established hyperglycemia as the main determinant of initiation and progression of diabetic microvascular complications including nephropathy. However, strict control of blood glucose in diabetes is difficult and sometimes dangerous. Therefore, understanding the distal pathways involved in high glucose-induced renal injury will have clinical significance. Several lines of evidence suggest the central role of oxidative stress in the development of diabetic nephropathy and the beneficial effects of antioxidants in renal injury owing to diabetes.