Long-Term Effect of a Chicken-Based Diet Versus Enalapril on Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Microalbuminuria

Objective

In short-term studies, the replacement of red meat in the diet with chicken reduced the urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and improved lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy. The present study sought to assess these effects over a long-term period, comparing the effects of a chicken-based diet (CD) versus enalapril on renal function and lipid profile in microalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients.

Design

This was a randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial with a follow-up of 1 year.

Setting

The trial involved outpatients with type 2 diabetes attending a clinic of the Division of Endocrinology at a tertiary-care hospital.

Patients

Twenty-eight microalbuminuric patients completed the study and were evaluated.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to an experimental diet (CD plus active placebo) or to treatment with enalapril (10 mg/day plus usual diet).

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measure was UAER (according to immunoturbidimetry). Blood pressure, anthropometric indices, and compliance were also evaluated monthly. The glomerular filtration rate (⁵¹Cr-EDTA), and lipid, glycemic, and nutritional indices, were measured at baseline and quarterly.

Results

The UAER was reduced after CD (n = 13; from 62.8 [range, 38.4 to 125.1] to 49.1 [range, 6.2 to 146.5] μg/min; P < .001) and after enalapril (n = 15; from 55.8 [range, 22.6 to 194.3] to 23.1 [range, 4.0 to 104.9] μg/min; P < .001), and this was already significant at month 4. The reduction in UAER after CD (32%; 95% confidence interval, 6.7% to 57.6%) and after enalapril treatment (44.7%; 95% confidence interval, 28.3% to 61.1%; P = .366) were not significantly different.

Conclusions

The CD and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril promoted a similar reduction of UAER in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria in a 12-month follow-up period.