Dietary strategies play an important role in alleviating the symptoms and the
development of the disease of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), in fact, slow the
progression toward renal failure as well. In light of this information, it is
important to understand how nutrients play a role in maintaining a healthy
“internal milieu” in a patient with kidney disease.
There are six general classes of nutrients that are essential components of a
healthy diet, whether or not one is nearing renal failure: Proteins, Fats,
Minerals, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Water.
These nutrients are needed by all people, but for those on renal diets, the
requirements may need to be adjusted. It is important, then, to learn how
specific nutrients interact with kidneys, cysts, blood pressure, etc., and then
learn how to make the necessary adjustments for an individual situation.
Some other recommendations which play a role in a healthy diet/lifestyle
include:
§ Reduce stress in your life: Stress causes cysts to grow faster by elevating
adrenaline.
§ Avoid inflammation: Anything that causes inflammation in the kidney can
accelerate the growth of cysts in PKD.
§ Eat a (mostly) vegetarian diet high in antioxidants: Diets based on plant
proteins help lower blood pressure and may help slow the growth of kidney cysts.
Animal studies have demonstrated that a low protein diet helps slow the
progression of PKD.
§ Try Soybeans: Studies in lab animals show that soy protein slows the
progression of PKD.
§ Choose low sodium foods and condiments. Try to eat less than 3000
milli-grams of sodium per day. Low sodium diets help reduce blood pressure and
in lab animals, helps slow the progression of PKD.
§ Watch the caffeine. Caffeine may hasten the progression of PKD by elevating
blood pressure.
§ Load up on potassium rich foods: High potassium diets help slow the decline
in kidney function (Glomular filtration rate, GFR) in rats.
§ Get your Omega-3's: Studies with rats show that ingestion of omega 3 fatty
acids helps reduce inflammation and slows the progression of PKD.
§ Eat high fiber carbohydrates: Recent studies have found that people with
PKD and other kidney diseases may be mildly or acutely insulin resistant. High
insulin levels are linked with heart disease and possibly faster rates of PKD
progression.
Although animal studies clearly show a benefit, more human research needs to
be done on most of the recommendations above before we know definitively they
can work to help slow the progression of PKD. Until then, you can be certain
that all of the recommendations are safe and are dietary and lifestyle factors
that can improve anyone's health.
