Updated: July 7, 2020
According to the American Kidney Fund, approximately 37 million Americans have kidney disease. Individuals in the early stages of kidney disease often do not present any symptoms, making these conditions difficult to identify. (
2) The health of your kidneys, two bean-shaped organs found below the rib cage on either side of the spine, is essential to filtering waste and water from your blood, as well as removing waste and excess fluid by producing urine. (
3)(
15) Lifestyle modifications, including diet and dietary supplements, can support your kidney health and may help prevent chronic kidney disease.
What is chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an umbrella term for any condition resulting in kidney damage and reduced kidney function over time. CKD may progress through five stages over time, and can eventually lead to stage five, known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD is characterized by total kidney failure and requires dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. (
17)
Chronic kidney disease stages
The stages of chronic kidney disease include:
- Chronic kidney disease stage 1, which is characterized by kidney damage, normal kidney function, and persistent elevated protein in the urine for at least three months
- Chronic kidney disease stage 2, which is characterized by kidney damage, mild loss of kidney function, and persistent elevated protein in the urine for at least three months
- Chronic kidney disease stage 3, which is characterized by mild to severe loss of kidney function
- Chronic kidney disease stage 4, which is characterized by severe loss of kidney function
- Chronic kidney disease stage 5, which is characterized by kidney failure that requires dialysis or organ transplant (17)
The following table outlines the characteristics of each chronic kidney disease stage.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a measure of kidney function used to identify an individual’s stage of kidney disease (
17)
Chronic kidney disease causes and risk factors
There are several causes and risk factors for chronic kidney disease, including:
- Certain autoimmune conditions (e.g., Goodpasture syndrome, lupus nephritis) (16)
- Certain infections (e.g., urinary tract infections) (14)(16)
- Certain genetic disorders (16)
- Certain medications (e.g., acetaminophen, aspirin, lithium) (5)
- Diabetes (3)(16)
- Dysbiosis (imbalanced intestinal microbiota) (9)
- Family history of CKD (3)
- Heavy metal poisoning (16)
- Hypertension (elevated blood pressure) (7)(16)
- Moderate to heavy alcohol intake (27)
- Smoking (7)
- Overweight and obesity (3)
While CKD can worsen over time, the CDC states that it can be treated and early intervention can yield better results. (
3)
Signs of chronic kidney disease
Individuals with CKD may not experience or notice any symptoms, particularly in the early stages. Advanced-stage chronic kidney disease symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dry skin
- Increased or decreased frequency of urination
- Itching and numbness
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Reduced appetite
- Edema (swelling) of the feet and ankles
- Weight loss (18)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately half of individuals with severely reduced kidney function who are not receiving dialysis are unaware they have CKD. (
3) Specific urine and blood tests that assess kidney damage and filtration rate are used to identify CKD. (
3)(
26)
CKD has been associated with certain health complications, such as anemia,
depression,
stroke, increased risk of infections, and imbalanced mineral levels in the blood. (
3) Individuals with CKD are also at an increased risk of premature mortality associated with
cardiovascular disease and cancer, making it critical to address CKD as early as possible. (
26)
How to improve kidney health
Although certain risk factors for CKD may be beyond your control, you can reduce your overall risk by managing conditions that may contribute to CKD and implementing healthy lifestyle changes. (
14) Additionally, chronic kidney disease treatment may include certain lifestyle and dietary interventions.
Lifestyle for kidney health
For CKD prevention, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and working with your healthcare practitioner to achieve a
healthy weight. (
14)
Did you know?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use has been associated with acute kidney injury. Speak with your healthcare provider to understand the benefits and risks of any medications. (
25)
Exercise and kidney health
Research has demonstrated several benefits of
physical activity for individuals with CKD. A recent meta-analysis found that aerobic exercise is associated with improved cardiorespiratory function, exercise duration, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol levels, and quality of life in patients with CKD. (
20) Physical activity can also contribute to prevention by improving metabolic risk factors, which may protect kidney function. (
24)
Kidney health diet
Specific dietary patterns that may prevent and address kidney disease include the
Mediterranean diet (
4) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
(DASH) diet. (
21) Both of these diets involve a low to moderate intake of protein, which has been associated with delaying the progression of CKD. (
4) One meta-analysis identified healthy dietary patterns that were associated with lower mortality rate in individuals with CKD. The evidence suggests that the
best foods for kidney health include vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and cereals, all of which are excellent sources of dietary fiber. Foods to avoid with chronic kidney disease include red meat, salt, and refined sugars. (
11)