This article is a critical overview of recent contributions on the dietary corrections and the foods that have been claimed to delay or hinder the onset of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its progression to end-stage renal disease. Innovative dietary and behavioral approaches to the prevention and therapy of DN appear to be the most captivating in consideration of the rather well-established protocols for glucose and blood pressure control in use. In addition to restricted caloric intake to contrast obesity and the metabolic syndrome, adjustments in the patient's macronutrients intake, and in particular some degree of reduction in protein, have been long considered in the prevention of DN progression. More recently, the focus has shifted to the source of proteins and the content of glycotoxins in the diet as well as to the role of specific micronutrients. Few clinical trials have specifically addressed the role of those micronutrients associated with diet proteins that show the most protective effect against DN. Research on clinical outcome and mechanisms of action of such micronutrients appears the most promising in order to develop both effective intervention on nutritional education of the patient and selection of functional foods capable of contrasting the onset and progression of DN.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; advanced glycation end-products (AGEs); diet; inflammation; nephropathy; protein intake.