by Dr Pandula Siribaddana

Created on: June 03, 2010

Kidneys are vital body organs that supports in the maintenance of homeostasis in the body through expulsion of toxic and excessively high elements in the blood, controlling the amount of fluid that is being excreted through the kidneys, secreting certain hormones and through various other measures. In kidney patients, the function of the kidneys has been decreased to a certain extent where it is no longer able to maintain the same functionality. Thus, in such patients, the principle in maintaining the existing kidney function and preventing further deterioration would be to minimize the workload handled by the kidneys to acceptable levels.

In doing so, nutrition plays a vital part as it has the ability to relieve the kidneys from additional workload while providing enough nutrition to tackle the essential requirements of the body at the same time. Let us see some of the basic measures that need to be adhered to by kidney disease patients with regard to their nutritional needs.

Protein

Being an essential component for building of muscles, tissue repair and growth; proteins are needed to be taken in moderate amounts by these patients. However, they should be aware about the fact that, when it is metabolized, there would be the production of urea and unless the kidneys are functioning adequately, it may accumulate in the body as a toxic substance. Thus, protein rich foods such as lean meat, poultry, eggs, sea foods, cheese, dairy and fish should be taken in moderate amounts according to the advice of your dietitian.

Sodium

Taking too much sodium will make these patients to retain more fluids and lead to developing ‘edema’ as well as increase the blood pressure. Thus, depending on the kidney function, the amount of sodium that is taken in should be controlled and most often, minimized. In general, canned soup, salt, bacon, ham, luncheon meats, smoked and cured foods as well as fast foods needs to be taken with caution.

Fluids

As with sodium, the amount of fluids that can be taken will be dependent on the ability of the kidneys to excrete excess fluids and therefore in many instances, the intake may have to be restricted. Measuring any sort of liquid would be the key to maintaining such fluid balance and keeping records would support health care providers to give correct advice on how much of fluids to be taken.

Potassium

High levels of potassium would cause irregular heart beating and serious cardiac complication in kidney disease patients and therefore the amount of potassium that can be taken would depend on the blood levels of potassium and other co-morbid factors. Thus, high potassium containing foods such as oranges, kiwi, broccoli, bananas, dried beans…etc have to be taken with lot of care.

Phosphorus

As the ability of excreting phosphorus by the kidneys is very limited in kidney patients, the intake of the same needs to be strictly controlled. Thus, eating foods such as dried beans, peas, nuts, organ meat, cola, beer…etc could be damaging to the long term health of these patients.

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