Replacing carbohydrate with protein appears to reduce mortality in adults with chronic kidney disease, study suggests (Carbs hurt; protein helps kidney patients)

Medical Xpress / Taylor & Francis / Renal Failure ^ | June 5, 2023 | Qidong Ren et al

[ConservativeMind]

A lower-carbohydrate and lower-sugar diet could increase life expectancy for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research. Replacing carbohydrate with protein and/or replacing sugar with non-sugar carbohydrate seems to reduce mortality risk, the study found.

Current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the general population recommend a low fat/low carbohydrate diet, making protein the primary energy source. However, the WHO recommends a low protein diet for those with CKD as high levels of protein are thought to accelerate kidney deterioration.

CKD is a common condition, affecting around 15% of people. An optimal diet can effectively prevent CKD from progression but very few studies have investigated the influence of carbohydrate intake in those with the disease.

To explore whether a low carbohydrate diet could be appropriate, lead author Qidong Ren and colleagues investigated associations between intake of macronutients (fat, protein, carbohydrate) and all-cause mortality risk in 3,683 adult CKD patients in the U.S.

They found that people with CKD had lower mortality risk when consuming 30%–45% of their energy from carbohydrate (compared with 60%), and 5%–20% of their energy from sugar (compared with 40%).

The researchers then conducted an iso-caloric replacement analysis which indicated that replacing the energy intake from carbohydrate with protein (up to 30%) and/or replacing sugar with non-sugar carbohydrate (up to 55%) reduced all-cause mortality risk while total energy intake remained constant.

"Our results suggest that dietary advice to CKD patients should be given according to their current diet structure (especially the percentage of carbohydrate intake) and sugar/non-sugar carbohydrate should be considered when adjusting their carbohydrate intake," Qidong Ren says.

"We observed lower mortality risk with lower carbohydrate intake and reduction in mortality risk when replacing the carbohydrate with protein. We also found that higher protein intake was associated with lower mortality risk in CKD patients."

[ConservativeMind]

It would seem kidney recommendations from doctors have been based on flawed WHO recommendations. This is not an uncommon occurrence, any more.

Question everything and do your own research. Find credible sources or, if not the top-tier, then determine if the study findings are more helpful than hurtful.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Macoozie]

Reducing Carbs by eating more BACON makes you happy.

so there!

[Chickensoup]

Wow low protein was the hallmark of a kidney preserving diet iirc.

[Kenny500c]

Agree, but why replace sugar?

Just eliminate it from your diet.

[pops88]

Another medical “breakthrough” for what was once the known treatment before big pharma came along. Kill off all the old folks and who’s to say otherwise?

[LittleBillyInfidel]

As a CKD patient, I’m leaning that a balanced diet and moderation is the key. Yet, that’s the key for ALL good health! I’ll still eat animal protein but it must be lean and in low amounts. I made the mistake of ramping up carb intake and eliminating protein after I was diagnosed and that was dumb.

[Delta 21]

There is no such thing as a ‘essential carbohydrate’.