Posted on 12/24/2010 8:47:24 PM PST by decimon
Vegetarian diet lowers blood and urine phosphorous levels
Phosphorous levels plummet in kidney disease patients who stick to a vegetarian diet, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest that eating vegetables rather than meat can help kidney disease patients avoid accumulating toxic levels of this mineral in their bodies.
Individuals with kidney disease cannot adequately rid the body of phosphorus, which is found in dietary proteins and is a common food additive. Kidney disease patients must limit their phosphorous intake, as high levels of the mineral can lead to heart disease and death. While medical guidelines recommend low phosphorus diets for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), phosphorus content is not listed on food labels.
Sharon Moe, MD (Indiana University School of Medicine and Roudebush Veterans' Affairs Medical Center) and her colleagues studied the effects of vegetarian and meat-based diets on phosphorous levels in nine patients with CKD. Patients followed a vegetarian or meat-based diet for one week, followed by the opposite diet two-to four- weeks later. Blood and urine tests were performed at the end of each week on both diets.
Despite equivalent protein and phosphorus concentrations in the two diets, patients had lower blood phosphorus levels and decreased phosphorus excretion in the urine when they were on the vegetarian diet compared with the meat-based diet. While the investigators did not determine the reason for this difference, a grain-based diet has a lower phosphate-to-protein ratio and much of the phosphate is in the form of phytate, which is not absorbed in humans.
The authors concluded that their study demonstrates that the source of protein in the diet has a significant effect on phosphorus levels in patients with CKD. Therefore, dietary counseling of patients with CKD must include information on not only the amount of phosphorous but also the source of protein from which it derives. "These results, if confirmed in longer studies, provide rationale for recommending a predominance of grain-based vegetarian sources of protein to patients with CKD. This diet would allow increased protein intake without adversely affecting phosphorus levels," the researchers wrote.
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Study co-authors include Miriam Zidehsarai, MD, Mary Chambers, RN, Laurie Trevino, MS (Indiana University School of Medicine); Lisa Jackman, MS, J. Scott Radcliffe, PhD (Purdue University); Susan Donahue, MBA, and John Asplin, MD (Litholink, Inc.)
Disclosures: Sharon Moe is a consultant and has received honoraria and/or grant support from Shire, Genzyme, and Ineos, makers of phosphate binders. She also serves as a Councilor for the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Susan Donahue and John Asplin are employees of Litholink, which analyzed the urine studies.
The article, entitled "Vegetarian Compared with Meat Dietary Protein Source and Phosphorus Homeostasis in Chronic Kidney Disease," will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on December 23, 2010, doi 10.2215/CJN.05040610.
The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.
Founded in 1966 and comprised of more than 12,000 members, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) leads the fight against kidney disease by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating the highest quality care for patients.
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Tumeric
Horse sh**. Just another attempt to turn people into vegans.
My magnificent yellow tabby isn’t happy to hear this.
I’ve been vegan almost 3 yrs now, going vegan after reading peer-reviewed studies on the effect of the diet on diabetes. My diabetic uncle was on dialysis for years, had both legs amputated, and died of a massive infection. This guy was a colonel in the Army Reserves, motorcycle enthusiast, and ‘man’s man’ who wouldn’t take any advice for managing his health.
I’ve been diabetic about 12 years. For blacks such as myself, one of the most frequent complications is kidney failure. My kidney tests come back in the normal range all the time - and after this long as a diabetic there is generally some decrease in function.
For some people, going vegan or vegetarian, is one of the best things they can do for their health. It is still a free society, President Obama not withstanding. If you want to eat meat, eat all you want. I’m going to stick with the veggies and beans and protect my health.
I don’t know why people (and not just here on FR) have a need to make remarks about what people eat. You eat vegetables too, you know, I just happen to eat more of them. Actually, what people eat really doesn’t deserve comment, but since some one reading these boards may be diabetic or have other issues that relate to kidney health, I’m going to speak up and encourage people to put more vegetables and less meat in their diet.
Merry Christmas!
Vegans are the worlds worst people for "going on about what people eat", this article is a prime example. Fake reports trying to push people to an all vegan diet. Yep, I eat veggies, but I also gobble as much meat as I can and I always will.
I don’t know why people (and not just here on FR) have a need to make remarks about what people eat. You eat vegetables too, you know, I just happen to eat more of them. Actually, what people eat really doesn’t deserve comment, but since some one reading these boards may be diabetic or have other issues that relate to kidney health, I’m going to speak up and encourage people to put more vegetables and less meat in their diet.”
Everything you have said in your comment is just so, ... rational. Well stated. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
It is an individual thing. Your age, gender and all-the-other-stuff-you-can't-know are factors.
Sorry about your uncle.
Phosphorous levels plummet in kidney disease patients who stick to a vegetarian diet......Gotta be Israel's fault that phosphorous levels were high in the first place. /sarc
From a forty-year vegetarian, Merry Christmas to you, to other Freeper herbivore types, to omnivores, meat partisans, and everyone else!
Some Seventh Day Adventist I know have known this Veg. diet for Kidney Disease for years. Am I Adventist? no, but I have no problem with their beliefs.
“Individuals with kidney disease cannot adequately rid the body of phosphorus, which is found in dietary proteins and is a common food additive.”
True but the leading source of phosphorus is dairy, beans, nuts, some grains, and processed foods. Vegetables and fruit also are the leading sources of potassium, which also those with kidney disease can’t get rid of it, without dialysis. Again potassium is used as an additive in processed foods. The real culprit is processed foods. A person on dialysis has to replace lost protein, it can be done on a vegan diet but is difficult without the aid of phosphorus binders.
“Disclosures: Sharon Moe is a consultant and has received honoraria and/or grant support from Shire, Genzyme, and Ineos, makers of phosphate binders. “
Bingo.
“her colleagues studied the effects of vegetarian and meat-based diets on phosphorous levels in nine patients with CKD. Patients followed a vegetarian or meat-based diet for one week, followed by the opposite diet two-to four- weeks later. Blood and urine tests were performed at the end of each week on both diets.”
An awfully small test group and short time to determine anything.
It also says this:
"...a grain-based diet has a lower phosphate-to-protein ratio and much of the phosphate is in the form of phytate, which is not absorbed in humans."
Bingo.
“her colleagues studied the effects of vegetarian and meat-based diets on phosphorous levels in nine patients with CKD. Patients followed a vegetarian or meat-based diet for one week, followed by the opposite diet two-to four- weeks later. Blood and urine tests were performed at the end of each week on both diets.”
An awfully small test group and short time to determine anything.
Actually, no BINGO, if this vegetarian diet hypothesis will lower the phosphorus/phosphate levels in patients with chronic kidney disease, then they will need less phosphate binders. You have to start somewhere with sample sizes. Bigger samples sizes also require more dirtary counseling and support.
>> “The real culprit is processed foods” <<
.
Absolutely true!
No matter what the disease pathology may be, processed foods with non-life source ingredients are generally at the root of the problem.
Interesting. It’s a huge challenge lowering phosphorous intake when going through Chronic Renal Failure. Just look at food labels; many prepared foods now have some kind of phosphorous additive (it will have “phos” in it’s name).
My dietician while I was on dialysis used to ponder what type of problems this will have in the future for healthy people without kidney problems. (excess intake in those with chronic renal failure sucks calcium out of the bones and into the bloodstream, causing bone weakness and plaques in the arteries)
When you think about phosphate metabolism, biochemistry and physiology from DNA, RNA, ATP, ADP to cyclic AMP, it’s quite amazing.
Good for you. My mom was on the ESRD diet for 10 years. It kept her off of dialysis.
I figured I would be going on the same diet eventually, but found out I have to avoid some of the very foods my mom ate and follow a different diet, even though I love beans and vegetables.
Clinical Ramifications of Malabsorption of Fructose and Other Short-chain Carbohydrates
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