Effect of Genistein and L-carnitine and Their Combination on Lipid Profile and Inflammatory Cytokines in Experimental Nephrotic Syndrome

Background: nephrotic syndrome is a disorder caused by kidney damage that results in severe leakage of protein from blood into urine. hyperlipidemia is one complication of nephrotic syndrome. l-carnitine and genistein can control cardiovascular diseases by causing changes in lipid metabolism and cytokine production. this study was designed to examine the effects of genistein and l-carnitine on serum lipid and cytokine profiles in experimental nephrotic syndrome. methods: in this study, 50 male sprague–dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups of 10 animals each with similar mean body weights (300±50 g). the five groups were nc (normal-control), pc (patientcontrol), lc (l-carnitine), g (genistein), and lcg (l-carnitine-genistein). serum hdl-cholesterol (hdl) ldl-cholesterol (ldl), triglyceride, cholesterol, il-6, and tnf-α were measured. statistics were analyzed using spss 18.0. results: at the end of the study, of the patient groups, hdl was significantly greater in the lc than in the pc or g groups (p<0.001). ldl was significantly less in the g than in the pc, lc, or lcg groups (p<0.001). interleukin-6 was significantly greater in the pc than in the lc, g, or lcg groups, and significantly greater in the lc than in the g group. (p<0.001), but no significant differences were found for triglyceride, cholesterol, or tnf-α between the patient groups. conclusions: genistein had less effect on hdl and triglyceride levels than lc or lcg. regarding inflammatory cytokines, genistein and l-carnitine had less effect on tnf-α than on il-6.