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Genetics may determine who benefits from broccoli's effects on kidney health

Date:
November 14, 2019
Source:
American Society of Nephrology
Summary:
Deletion of the gene that codes for an enzyme called GSTM1 increased kidney injury in mice with hypertension and kidney disease, but supplementing the diet with broccoli powder lessened kidney injury in the genetically altered mice. In humans, high consumption of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables was linked with a lower risk of kidney failure, primarily in individuals lacking GSTM1.
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New research indicates that the benefits of a dietary compound on kidney health may depend on an individual's genetics. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of JASN, may be helpful for tailoring interventions to prevent or treat kidney disease.

Glutathione S-transferase mu-1 (GSTM1) is an enzyme that plays a role in ridding the body of toxins and combatting oxidative stress. Many individuals carry a variant in the GSTM1 gene that prevents the gene's expression (called a null variant) and therefore they lack production of the enzyme. A team led by Thu H. Le, MD (University of Rochester Medical Center) previously showed that individuals carrying this variant face a higher risk of experiencing kidney function decline.

In their latest study, the investigators found that deletion of the gene increases kidney injury in mice with hypertension and kidney disease. Supplementing the diet with broccoli powder (which is rich in an antioxidant-activating compound) significantly lessened kidney injury in the genetically altered mice, but not in normal mice with kidney disease.

"We speculate that the GSTM1 enzyme may be involved in the breakdown of antioxidant-promoting compounds, and therefore deficiency in the enzyme may increase the bioavailability of protective compounds relevant in kidney disease," said Dr. Le.

When the researchers examined information from a large clinical trial, they found that high consumption of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables was linked with a lower risk of kidney failure, primarily in participants with the GSTM1 null variant.

"Our study highlights diet-gene interactions in kidney disease and illustrates that response to the disease-modifying effect of diet is influenced by genetics," said Dr. Le. "In the context of personalized and precision medicine, increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables may be protective, particularly in those lacking GSTM1 who are genetically most at risk for kidney disease progression. Furthermore, our study suggests that knowing an individual's genetic information enables tailoring an intervention to prevent or delay kidney disease progression among those who would respond based on their genetic makeup."


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Materials provided by American Society of Nephrology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Joseph C. Gigliotti, Adrienne Tin, Shirin Pourafshar, Sylvia Cechova, Yves T. Wang, Sun-sang J. Sung, Gabor Bodonyi-Kovacs, Janet V. Cross, Guang Yang, Nhu Nguyen, Fang Chan, Casey Rebholz, Bing Yu, Megan L. Grove, Morgan E. Grams, Anna Köttgen, Robert Scharpf, Phillip Ruiz, Eric Boerwinkle, Josef Coresh, Thu H. Le. GSTM1 Deletion Exaggerates Kidney Injury in Experimental Mouse Models and Confers the Protective Effect of Cruciferous Vegetables in Mice and Humans. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2019; ASN.2019050449 DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2019050449

Cite This Page:

American Society of Nephrology. "Genetics may determine who benefits from broccoli's effects on kidney health." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 November 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191114180027.htm>.
American Society of Nephrology. (2019, November 14). Genetics may determine who benefits from broccoli's effects on kidney health. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191114180027.htm
American Society of Nephrology. "Genetics may determine who benefits from broccoli's effects on kidney health." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191114180027.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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