How Carnosine and Lipoic Acid Stop Kidney Disease

High blood sugar is well known to induce kidney damage and eventual kidney disease.  This is certainly the case for type 2 diabetics, but significant kidney stress occurs even in those with moderately elevated blood sugar (above a fasting level of 90).  Of course, this initially sets the stage for high blood pressure and that causes many people to go on blood pressure medication, which is the “gateway drug” to an eventual long list of toxic medications.  Research shows that carnosine and lipoic acid can help stop this kidney damage.

An understanding of this issue centers on emerging science regarding the role of an immune system communication molecule known as transforming growth factor–beta (TGF-β).  TGF-β under normal conditions of healthy function helps make new cells, including new cells in the kidneys, in order to maintain health.  In fact, TGF-β even helps kill off all cells that are too old to function.  It is helping to regulate “out with the old and in with the new.”  Under conditions of inflammatory injury TGF-β production is increased to as to help make new cells to repair the injury.

However, under conditions of chronic low-grade inflammation these survival processes become confused, as occurs in type 2 diabetes.  In the case of kidney health it means that TGF-β actually drives the process that produces new tissue matrix that is full of damaged tissue, causing organ damage.  The precise mechanism has now been identified.  Inappropriately elevated blood sugar triggers free radical production in kidney cells, which then triggers TGF-β production (a normal response to kidney stress).  However, when the blood sugar problem continues month after month then TGF-β production becomes excessive resulting in abnormal and damaged kidney function.  For many people, the first sign of this problem will be elevated blood pressure (indicating initital levels of kidney damage).

A new study shows that carnosine can stop the excess production of TGF-β, thereby preventing kidney damage.  An earlier study has shown that lipoic acid, another potent antioxidant, can also stop excess TGF-β.  These studies support the use of carnosine and lipoic acid by individuals with fasting blood sugar over 90 or by anyone with high blood pressure.  Drugs do not address the source of the TGF-β problem that is causing kidneys to malfunction – it is only nutrients that offer any true hope for improvement. 

Of course, individuals should also go on the Leptin Diet, exercise, eat well, and use other supplements that are supportive of correcting any blood sugar or blood pressure metabolic issues.  However, excessive TGF-β is clearly punching the kidneys in the nose and there is no reason your kidneys have to take a beating.