Therapeutic nutrition in chronic kidney disease: prioritizing a plant-based diet

In recent years, there has been increasing evidence of the benefits of a plant-based diet for the prevention and treatment of most somatic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Improving the nutritional properties of foods by increasing the proportion of plant ingredients while reducing the total amount of animal proteins can reduce the need for nephroprotective drugs, complications of renal diseases and may favorably affect disease progression and patient survival. In this article, we analyze the data available in the world literature on a diet with a predominance of plant products, which has a positive effect on the prevention of renal pathology, the incidence and CKD progression, metabolic acidosis, hyperphosphatemia, arterial hypertension, uremic toxicity, the need for renal replacement therapy and quality of life. Attention is also paid to hyperkalemia and vitamin B12 deficiency, which are often associated with plant-based nutrition, but with the participation of a nutritionist, these risks can be significantly minimized. Therefore, taking into account the risk-benefit ratio, the approach to therapeutic nutrition for CKD is confidently shifting to the plant-based diet.

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