The effect of lycopene on contrast-induced nephrotoxicity in diabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography

Introduction: Radiocontrast nephrotoxicity refers to one of the most prevalent and key complications in diabetic patients. Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic and protective effect of lycopene on contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) in diabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography. Patients and Methods: In this study, 113 patients who took lycopene with prevention of contrast induced kidney injury regime (lycopene group) or prevention of kidney injury regimen alone (regimen group) were investigated through medical records. Oral lycopene was administered 24 hours before to 72 hours after the angiography. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were assessed and recorded in a checklist. SPSS software was conducted for data analysis. Results: At the baseline, there was no significant difference between the mean of urea, Cr, and GFR (P>0.05). However, after administration of lycopene, a significant difference between the mean BUN was observed among groups (P<0.001), with lower rate in the patients taking oral lycopene. Although the mean Cr decreased after the administration of oral lycopene, no statistically significant difference was seen (P = 0.08). The mean GFR was not significant different between the two groups of regimen and lycopene (P=0.44). Conclusion: In patients with diabetes, taking lycopene for CIN may help improve some biochemical factors; nevertheless, its positive effect on the improvement of nephrotoxicity indices cannot be certainly determined.