Histidine reduces the risk of diabetic nephropathy in women by affecting tryptophan metabolism: A cross-sectional study in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective：This study explored the effect of histidine on the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy in different gender populations and it’s specific possible pathway, as well as the influence of Metformin on the pathway. Methods：This study retrieved 1031 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China. We used stepwise logistic regression to analyze the association between histidine and diabetic nephropathy in the general population and in gender-stratified populations. And the mediating effect analysis was used to explore the specific pathway of this relationship in the female population. Results：The protective effect of histidine on diabetic nephropathy was influenced by gender, and it is significant in woman (univariable: OR: 0.68 (95%CI: 0.5,0.93), multivariable: OR: 0.54 (95%CI: 0.38,0.78)). And the specific pathway of its effect was partly through affecting tryptophan metabolism. Conclusions：The protective effect of histidine against diabetic nephropathy in the female population was stronger than that in the general population, and was negatively affected by Metformin. This helps us pay more attention to the clinical nutritional and preventive value of histidine and tryptophan in female diabetic patients.