Diet for Kidney Failure Patients

The kidney's main functions are filtering wastes from the blood, maintaining electrolyte balance as well as acid-alkaline balance in the body. The kidneys filter the waste as urine. The urine is eliminated via the bladder. Renal failure is defined as any condition in which the kidneys are no longer able to perform these functions properly. Most medical practitioners do not support a diet specifically for people in Renal failure. However, there are some suggestions for dietary restrictions that may be able to allay the disease's progression. Among them are lowering protein intake as well as monitoring dietary sodium and potassium.

Types of Kidney Failure

• Acute

  Kidney failure is acute when it is rapid onset. Reasons can include sepsis -- a infection of the blood -- or significant muscle trauma, which can mean severe crushing injuries that introduce large amounts of muscle tissue into the bloodstream. The kidneys become overwhelmed trying to filter out the byproducts from the muscle fibers. Other factors in acute onset are some medications like Ibuprofen or Naproxen which can be toxic to kidneys. Diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, which is being hinted at as a factor in the death of superstar Michael Jackson, can also be a factor.

  Chronic

  Chronic kidney failure happens over long periods and builds up cumulatively. Diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, if not kept under control, can overtax kidneys and eventually cause irreparable harm.

  For more information please see the Reference and Resource sections below.

Lowering Protein Intake

• There is a thought that excess protein can clog the filtration system in the kidney, thereby exacerbating the problem. However, simply lowering protein alone may not be the answer. An article by Ben Best referenced a 1987 study in Clinical Nephrology that indicated that the type of protein is also important. Protein from meat produced the highest stress on the underperforming kidneys, followed closely by milk protein. Interestingly, whey protein had no measurable effect on kidney function. See the Reference section.

Dietary Mineral Requirements

• Excessive salt intake is a concern, because of the high levels of sodium in many of the processed and fast foods that are part of the modern diet. For an overtaxed kidney, salt can affect blood pressure levels and lead to fluid retention and if not corrected, give rise to congestive heart failure. Low salt products are not recommended because of excess potassium. In persons in kidney failure, excess potassium can lead to an irregular heart rhythm that could manifest in a heart attack if not monitored.

  There are normally not any restrictions on fluid unless you begin to retain fluid. In the case of fluid retention, usually salt is the culprit so doctors will monitor sodium intake.