» Articles » PMID: 39115418

Plant-based Diets for Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment

Overview
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Plant-based diets are associated with a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Using the most recent evidence, we critically appraised the role of plant-based diets in primary and secondary prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a focus on key nutritional factors (dietary acid load, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and fiber).

Recent Findings: In healthy individuals, observational studies found that greater intake of plant protein and higher adherence to plant-based diets (overall, healthful, and provegetarian) was associated with a lower risk of CKD. In those with CKD, plant-based diets were associated with a lower risk of mortality, improved kidney function, and favorable metabolic profiles (fibroblast growth factor-23, uremic toxins, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory biomarkers). Only few studies reported nutrient content of plant-based diets. These studies found that plant-based diets had lower dietary acid load, lower or no significant difference in phosphorus and sodium, and higher potassium and fiber. One study reported that vegetarian diets were associated with severe vitamin D deficiency compared to nonvegetarian diets.

Summary: Plant-based diets provide several benefits for prevention and management of CKD, with little risk for individuals with CKD. Incorporation of vitamin D rich foods in plant-based diets may be helpful.

Citing Articles

Risk-directed management of chronic kidney disease.

Blum M, Neuen B, Grams M Nat Rev Nephrol. 2025; .

PMID: 39885336 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-025-00931-8.

References
1.
Bach K, Kelly J, Palmer S, Khalesi S, Strippoli G, Campbell K . Healthy Dietary Patterns and Incidence of CKD: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2019; 14(10):1441-1449. PMC: 6777603. DOI: 10.2215/CJN.00530119. View

2.
Liu X, Hu Z, Xu X, Li Z, Chen Y, Dong J . The associations of plant-based protein intake with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2020; 30(6):967-976. DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.03.003. View

3.
Goraya N, Simoni J, Jo C, Wesson D . Treatment of metabolic acidosis in patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease with fruits and vegetables or oral bicarbonate reduces urine angiotensinogen and preserves glomerular filtration rate. Kidney Int. 2014; 86(5):1031-8. DOI: 10.1038/ki.2014.83. View

4.
Liu H, Tsai W, Liu J, Kuo K . Association of Vegetarian Diet with Chronic Kidney Disease. Nutrients. 2019; 11(2). PMC: 6412429. DOI: 10.3390/nu11020279. View

5.
Amir S, Kim H, Hu E, Ricardo A, Mills K, He J . Adherence to Plant-Based Diets and Risk of CKD Progression and All-Cause Mortality: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Am J Kidney Dis. 2023; 83(5):624-635. PMC: 11034716. DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.09.020. View