Vitamin B supplements protect kidney function in early diabetics

Vitamin B supplements may protect kidney function in children with diabetes

Vitamin B supplements have a protective effect on kidney function in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes, according to a new research presented at the Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting. Supplementation of vitamin B complex may protect against the development and progression of kidney disease in children with diabetes, which could promote improved health and quality of life in adulthood.

Type 1 diabetes is a life-long disease which occurs as the result of one’s immune system attacking the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, thereby leading to deficient insulin levels. Insulin regulates and maintains optimal blood sugar levels in the body. The condition is usually diagnosed in childhood and can lead to serious and debilitating complications, including diabetic kidney disease. This common complication develops over many years, but has no symptoms in the early stages, so if undetected can necessitate long-term, intensive or expensive treatments.

After 12 weeks of vitamin B complex supplementation in children and adolescents, we detected lower levels of markers that indicate poor kidney function, suggesting that it had a protective effect and could slow progression of the disease

This study involved 80 vitamin B12-deficient, type-1 diabetics, aged 12-18 years, with early signs of diabetic kidney disease. Children were given either vitamin B supplements or no treatment, over a 12-week period. After 12 weeks, the children given vitamin B supplements showed significant changes in several blood markers that overall indicated improvements in their blood glucose regulation and kidney function.

Prof Nancy Samir Elbarbary of Ain Shams University in Cairo states, “After 12 weeks of vitamin B complex supplementation in children and adolescents with diabetic kidney disease, we detected lower levels of markers that indicate poor kidney function, suggesting that it had a protective effect and could slow progression of the disease.”

According to National Health Portal, Type 1 diabetes though uncommon in India is increasing at a rate of 3% every year particularly among children. There are more than 70,000 children with Type 1 diabetes in India, second largest number in the world after the USA.

Prof Elbarbary, added, “Although the best strategy for treating diabetic kidney disease is prevention, for example through better blood glucose control and maintenance of healthy blood pressure, a normal lipid profile and a healthy body weight, the long-term duration of diabetes still increases the risk of developing kidney disease. So, these findings suggest vitamin B supplementation, in addition to traditional angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy may be a simple, safe and cost-effective strategy for early protection of kidney function, which may improve the long-term quality of life for type-1 diabetes patients.”