A diet high in sodium and potassium can make chronic kidney disease (CKD) worse, according to a new study by the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The study’s findings could impact dietary recommendations for patients with CKD to slow disease progression, say researchers. As part of the study, researchers tested urine samples from almost 4,000 people with chronic kidney disease and estimated the daily intake of nutrients from these samples. Researchers found that high levels of sodium and potassium in the urine were linked with faster disease progression.
The study’s participants consumed much more sodium than the recommended daily limit of about 2,400 milligrams (mg). On average, they ate 3,700 mg per day.
The findings could lead to new guidelines for how much sodium and potassium people with chronic kidney disease should have on a daily basis.
The study is published online in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
