The High Refined Carbohydrate Diet Promotes Renal Injury in Mice Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a high refined carbohydrate diet (HRC diet) and renal response in C57BL/6 mice exposed to Cigarette Smoke (CS). Twenty-four male mice were divided: Control Group (CG), Cigarette Smoke Group (CSG) which received standard diet; HRC diet group (RG) and HRC diet and cigarette smoke group (RCSG) which received the HRC diet. After twelve weeks, CSG and RCSG were exposed to CS for five days. Twenty-four hours after the last exposure all animals were euthanized. There was an increase of inflammatory cells in the RCSG and of interstitial edema and hyaline glomeruli in the RG and RCSG. Hyperemia, membranous glomerulopathy and glomerulosclerosis were frequent lesions in the CS, RG, and RCSG. There was a decrease in the glomerular area of the RG and increase in Bowman’s space of the CSG, RG, and RCSG. The glomerular densities in CSG, RG, and RCSG were lower than of the CG. There was lower plasma urea concentration in CSG, RG, RCSG and higher plasma alkaline phosphatase in RG. Our data demonstrate that the HRC diet, cigarette smoke and the association of both factors promote renal damage and are risk factors for the functioning of the renal system.