When nutrition becomes a treatment: Study investigates ketogenic dietary interventions in polycystic kidney disease (Three months = 5.5% better eGFR)

Medical Xpress / University of Cologne / Cell Reports Medicine ^ | Nov. 7, 2023 | Anna Euteneuer / Sadrija Cukoski et al

[ConservativeMind]

A clinical study on special diets at the University of Cologne shows promising results on the use of a ketogenic diet as a possible treatment for hereditary polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This disease causes about 10% of all cases of kidney failure and is the most common hereditary kidney disease worldwide.

In the KETO-ADPKD study, one of these dietary regimens—the ketogenic diet—was investigated as a treatment for polycystic kidney disease.

The final results of the phase II-like study, which are now available, also showed that a switch to a ketogenic diet can have a positive effect on kidney function of ADPKD patients.

A total of 66 patients participated in the study and were divided into three groups: One group followed a ketogenic diet for three months, a second group did three days of water fasting once a month—a kind of zero diet that only allows drinking water—and a third control group followed the standard dietary recommendations.

One of the most important findings was that 95% of patients in the ketogenic group and 85% in the water fasting group reported the diet to be feasible.

In addition, the researchers were able to use biomarkers—ketone bodies—measured in blood samples that showed that the participants had indeed adhered to the prescribed diet.

The ketogenic diet is a diet that seems unusual at first glance as it avoids carbohydrates such as sugar or flour whereas more fat is consumed. This form of diet has also been studied with regard to its general life-prolonging effect.

The study was able to demonstrate that after only three months, positive changes in important parameters such as kidney function were seen, and there were no unexpected side effects. The positive changes in kidney function were statistically significant and exceeded the expectations of the researchers.

[ConservativeMind]

The study shows that in just three months, eGFR increased 5.51% for those on the Keto diet. Cystatin C, a newer substitute for creatinine in the eGFR formula, improved 13.9%.

The researchers worried if a condition called “hyperfiltration” was now a problem, and it wasn’t:

“To examine potential signs of hyperfiltration as a basis to the eGFR increase in the KD group, we analyzed the albumin-to-creatinine ratio. There was no significant difference of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio between the control and the KD/WF groups (KD, p = 0.196; WF, p = 0.704). Also, the ratio of alpha-1-microglobulin to creatinine, as a marker of potential differences in tubular damage, showed no significant differences in the change from BL to EOT between groups.”

Do note such diet changes should be run by your doctor, with such a condition.

[ConservativeMind]

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