How could diet affect CKD?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Diet plays a crucial role in managing chronic kidney disease by necessitating the limitation of foods high in sodium, phosphorus, and protein and emphasizing calcium and vitamin D intake. Various dietary approaches — including low-protein, low-salt, and plant-based diets — have shown potential benefits for certain disease markers, although research on their long-term effects is limited.

    CKD compromises the kidneys’ ability to balance electrolytes and nutrients in the blood, so managing CKD involves limiting foods higher in sodium, phosphorus, and protein; supplementing or emphasizing foods high in calcium and vitamin-d to reach normal levels, and increasing total calories when a person is at risk for unintentional weight loss. potassium may be restricted or emphasized on an individual basis in order to maintain normal serum-potassium levels.[1][2]

    Studies on the effects of specific diets are sparse and short term, but show benefits to some markers of the disease. Studied diets include low-protein and very-low-protein diets, low-salt diets, low-fat diets, low-carbohydrate diets, high fruit-and-vegetable diets, plant-based diets, vegan , vegetarian diets, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, mediterranean-diet, American Heart Association diet, and American Diabetes Association diet.[3]

    How could diet affect CKD? - Examine