Following a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of kidney disease

A new study has revealed a link between herbal diets and kidney health. The conclusion, which will appear in a future issue of CJASN, indicates that eating a nutrient-rich plant-based diet can help protect against the development of chronic kidney disease.

The consumption of herbal foods is becoming more and more common for ethical, environmental and health reasons. However, the quality of plant sources of food may differ, with nutrient-rich plants being healthier and plants rich in refined carbohydrates less healthy.

New evidence suggests that the risk of chronic disease varies among types of herbal diets. To evaluate badociations between plant-based diets and CRD development in a general population, a team led by Hyunju Kim and Casey M. Rebholz, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) badyzed information relating to 14,686 middle-aged adults enrolled in the study on the risk of atherosclerosis in communities.

Among the main discoveries:

• During a median follow-up of 24 years, 4,343 new cases of CKD occurred.
• Participants with the greatest respect for a healthy plant-based diet were 14% less likely to develop an RCM than participants with the lowest respect for a healthy diet.
• Participants with the greatest respect for a less healthy plant-based diet had a higher risk of developing an RCM of 11% compared to participants with the least respect for a less healthy plant-based diet.
• The badociation between herbal diets and the risk of MRC was particularly pronounced among participants whose weight was normal at the beginning of the study.
• Greater adherence to a plant-based diet and a healthy diet have been badociated with a slower degradation of kidney function.

"For the risk of kidney disease, it seems important to choose healthy options for plant sources of food, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes," said Dr. Rebholz . "In addition, our discovery of a significant interaction based on weight status at first suggests that following a healthy diet can be particularly beneficial before becoming overweight or obese. . "

In an editorial accompanying Patient Voice, Patrick Gee describes his eating experiences as a person who has spent 4.5 years in peritoneal dialysis and who is now about to undergo a kidney transplant for about two years. He found that herbal diets were lacking in several areas and opted for the ketogenic diet, very low in carbohydrates, high in fat and moderate in protein.