This study investigated the effects of flaxseed and vitamin E on diabetic nephropathy lesions in an experimental-induced model of diabetes in hamsters. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in male Golden Syrian hamsters, and diabetic animals were fed either standard diet, or standard diet supplemented with flaxseed (150 g/kg diet), vitamin E (400 mg a-tocopherol/kg diet) or combination of flaxseed and vitamin E in the same dosages, for 20 weeks. Kidney histological evaluation of the diabetic hamsters revealed histological lesions characteristic for diabetic nephropathy, while supplementation of the diet with flaxseed and/or vitamin E improved histological aspects of diabetic nephropathy.