Dietary Management Of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is currently an important public health issue worldwide, and the prevalence rate has been rising. At present, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in my country is 10.8%. As we all know, CKD is a chronic progressive disease. During the whole process, there will be multiple complications and multiple organ dysfunction, which seriously affect the quality of life and increase the risk of death. For CKD patients, it is particularly important to delay the progression of the disease. Some scholars have pointed out that adjusting lifestyle, doing a good job of dietary management, controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids, and preventing and treating complications have a positive effect on the long-term health of patients with chronic kidney disease.

Click to Cistanche for kidney disease

Diet plays a vital role in the management of chronic kidney disease. The right diet can reduce the burden on the kidneys, slow the progression of the disease, and help patients better control complications related to renal insufficiency. Dietary guidance has become an indispensable part of the management of patients with chronic kidney disease.

1. High-quality low-protein diet

When kidney function is normal, the protein in food will produce nitrogen-containing waste such as urea nitrogen after digestion, absorption, and decomposition, which will be excreted from the kidneys. However, when renal function declines, the kidney's ability to excrete these metabolic wastes is greatly weakened, so these metabolic wastes will accumulate in the blood and become chronic kidney virus toxins, affecting the patient's health. In recent years, some scholars have pointed out that a high-quality low-protein diet may have a beneficial effect on the primary prevention and delay of CKD patients, help improve metabolic disorders in patients, relieve symptoms and complications, and have a positive effect on the long-term health of the kidneys.

A high-quality low-protein diet is based on the premise of limiting the total amount of protein, and more than 50% must come from high-quality protein, and the rest of the protein must be provided by grains, vegetables, and fruits. A low-protein diet is not unlimitedly low. While controlling protein intake, it must be accompanied by sufficient calorie intake. If the calorie intake is insufficient, it will cause protein decomposition and increase the production of nitrogenous waste. In addition, too low protein intake will lead to malnutrition, low immunity, excessive consumption of the body, and poor physical fitness, which is not conducive to the management of CKD.

Traditionally, CKD patients should not consume soybeans and soy products. In fact, soy protein is the only high-quality protein in plants that is similar to animal protein, and CKD patients can eat it. And studies have found that soy protein diet has an improving effect on CKD patients' blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, etc. However, for patients with hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hyperkalemia, the amount of intake needs to be controlled. It is recommended to replace part of animal protein with soybeans, tofu, and soy milk while controlling the daily protein intake, which is more conducive to alleviating the condition and improving the prognosis.

2. Low-salt diet

A low-salt diet is very important for CKD patients. In clinical practice, we found that many patients did not follow a low-salt diet. The "Dietary Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease" recommends that patients at all stages should have a daily sodium intake of less than 2000 mg, which is equivalent to a daily sodium intake of less than 5 grams. For CKD patients with edema, a low-salt diet should be implemented under the guidance of a clinical nutritionist or specialist, and the daily salt intake should not exceed 3g; for severe edema, a salt-free diet (sodium <100mg) or a low-sodium diet (sodium <500mg) should be implemented. Studies have found that for CKD patients, reducing the sodium intake in the diet can lower blood pressure and proteinuria, thereby delaying the progression of the disease. At the same time, a low-salt diet is conducive to a better effect of drugs. Therefore, CKD patients should control their salt intake by learning to quantify salt, adjusting cooking methods, and eating less processed foods to ensure a low-salt diet.

3. Low-phosphorus diet

Renal dysfunction leads to a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a decrease in phosphorus excretion, and phosphorus accumulation in the body, which eventually leads to increased blood phosphorus. Hyperphosphatemia is very harmful. It can combine with calcium ions in the blood to form calcium phosphate, which is deposited in soft tissues to form calcification foci, such as soft tissues and skin blood vessels near the lungs, stomach, kidneys, heart and large joints. Hyperphosphatemia will also aggravate renal damage and further worsen the condition. CKD mineral and bone abnormalities (CKD-MBD) are serious complications in peridialysis patients, with high disability and mortality rates. The incidence of hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients in my country is 61.5%, but the awareness of a low-phosphorus diet is not high. Studies have found that for every 1mmol/L increase in blood phosphorus levels, the relative risk of death in patients increases by 56%. When serum phosphorus exceeds 1.61mmol/L, the relative risk of death increases significantly. Therefore, a low-phosphorus diet plays a pivotal role in the management of CKD patients. In life, we should try to avoid foods with high inorganic phosphates, such as high-phosphorus processed products, ham, sausage, chocolate, milk tea, beer, etc. 90%~100% of these high-phosphorus processed foods will be absorbed by the human body and should be avoided as much as possible. However, a low-phosphorus diet does not mean that all phosphorus-containing foods are completely inedible. Many CKD patients believe that a low-phosphorus diet is a one-size-fits-all approach and that anything containing phosphorus cannot be used. In fact, many foods with high protein content have high phosphorus. If these foods are not eaten, it will lead to insufficient protein intake, which will offset the benefits of phosphorus restriction. The correct low-phosphorus diet is not to exclude natural nutritious foods such as meat, eggs, milk and soy products, but to achieve the right amount to ensure the body's nutritional needs.

4. Low-potassium diet

Hyperkalemia has a high incidence in CKD patients and is more likely to relapse. Studies have found that when blood potassium is greater than 5.0mmol/L, the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular events increase. Patients with CKD stage 3 or above need to control their daily potassium intake, and when blood potassium is greater than 5.5mmol/L, potassium intake needs to be more strictly restricted. If necessary, potassium-lowering drugs should be taken in combination to maintain blood potassium at normal levels. It is generally believed that per 100g of food, potassium content of less than 150mg is low-potassium food, 150~250mg is medium-potassium food, and >250mg is high-potassium food. Common high-potassium foods include: spinach, taro, bitter melon, seaweed, mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, pickled mustard and red dates, cantaloupe, kiwi, banana, durian, cherry, dried fruit, bean curd, mung bean, peanut kernels, walnuts, almonds, cashews, cheese, milk slices, etc. CKD patients should try to eat less of the above foods. In addition, because potassium is easily soluble in water, the potassium content in food can be greatly reduced by soaking or blanching the food and then controlling the water as much as possible before cooking.

How Does Cistanche Treat Kidney Disease?

Cistanche is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for centuries to treat various health conditions, including kidney disease. It is derived from the dried stems of Cistanche deserticola, a plant native to the deserts of China and Mongolia. The main active components of cistanche are phenylethanoid glycosides, echinacoside, and acteoside, which have been found to have beneficial effects on kidney health.

Kidney disease, also known as renal disease, refers to a condition in which the kidneys are not functioning properly. This can result in a buildup of waste products and toxins in the body, leading to various symptoms and complications. Cistanche may help treat kidney disease ase through several mechanisms.

Firstly, cistanche has been found to have diuretic properties, meaning it can increase urine production and help eliminate waste products from the body. This can help relieve the burden on the kidneys and prevent the buildup of toxins. By promoting diuresis, cistanche may also help Reduce high blood pressure, a common complication of kidney disease.

Moreover, cistanche has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's antioxidant defenses, plays a key role in the progression of kidney disease. ies help neutralize free radicals and reduce Oxidative stress, thereby protecting the kidneys from damage. The phenylethanoid glycosides found in cistanche have been particularly effective in scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Additionally, cistanche has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is another key factor in the development and progression of kidney disease. Cistanche's anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit the activation of inflammation mandatory pathways, thus alleviating inflammation in the kidneys.

Furthermore, cistanche has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. In kidney disease, the immune system can be dysregulated, leading to excessive inflammation and tissue damage. Cistanche helps regulate the immune response by modulating the production and activity of immune cells, such as T cells and macrophages. This immune regulation helps reduce inflammation and prevent further damage to the kidneys.

Moreover, cistanche has been found to improve renal function by promoting the regeneration of renal tubes with cells. Renal tubular epithelial cells play a crucial role in the filtration and reabsorption of waste products and electrolytes. In kidney disease, these cells can be damaged, leading to damaged renal function. Cistanche's ability to promote the regeneration of these cells helps restore proper renal function and improve overall kidney health.

In addition to these direct effects on the kidneys, cistanche has been found to have beneficial effects on other organs and systems in the body. This holistic approach to health is particularly important in kidney disease, as the condition often affects multiple organs and systems. che has been shown to have protective effects on the liver, heart, and blood vessels, which are commonly affected by kidney disease. By promoting the health of these organs, cistanche helps improve overall kidney function and prevent further complications.

In conclusion, cistanche is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for centuries to treat kidney disease. Its active components have diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative effects, which help improve renal function and protect the kidneys from further damage. , cistanche has beneficial effects on other organs and systems, making it a holistic approach to treating kidney disease.