The Effects of Dietary Fiber on Lead Toxicity Evaluated Through Cellular and Diabetic Models

Objectives: This study evaluates the potential of dietary fiber (DF) to mitigate kidney and liver damage and inflammatory responses caused by heavy metal exposure in diabetic patients, using cell and animal experiments.It aims to confirm DF's effectiveness in reducing tissue damage and inflammation in a diabetes model.Methods: In vitro, podocytes and RAW 264.7 cells were treated with lead (Pb) to evaluate the effects of DF on cell viability using the MTT assay and inflammatory markers TNF- and IL-6, which were analyzed through ELISA.In vivo, db/db mice received intraperitoneal lead injections (high: 0.216 mg/ 100 l; low: 0.108 mg/100 l) and oral DF (12 mg/100 l) for two weeks.Tissue damage was assessed using H&E and IHC staining, while protein levels were analyzed through western blot with specific antibodies against Nephrin, E-cadherin, Podocin, and phosphorylated E-cadherin(S838 + S840).Results: In cell experiments, DF treatment in lead-exposed groups with 70% cell viability exhibited a bell-shaped response, with the highest viability observed at moderate DF concentrations.ELISA results demonstrated significantly elevated TNF- and IL-6 levels in the lead-only group, which were reduced by DF co-treatment.In animal experiments, H&E staining revealed minor histological changes in kidney and liver tissues, but no significant differences among groups.IHC and western blot analyses showed that protein expression levels increased in the lead-only group and decreased in DF-treated groups, indicating protective effects against lead-induced tissue damage.Conclusions: This study indicates that dietary fiber can mitigate lead-induced tissue damage in the kidney and liver and reduce associated inflammatory responses.These findings support the potential of dietary fiber as an adjunctive therapy to alleviate the adverse health effects of lead exposure, particularly in individuals with underlying conditions.