Research indicates that vegan and pesco-vegetarian diets are linked to enhanced kidney health compared to diets that include meat and dairy products. These plant-based dietary patterns may protect against chronic kidney disease by promoting more efficient kidney filtering and waste removal.
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The study assessed the relationship between dietary habits, kidney function, and diet-related metabolites, using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as an indicator of kidney filtration efficiency.
Lead author Fayth Butler, PhD, MPH, an associate professor at Loma Linda University School of Public Health, noted, "We now have evidence that a vegetarian diet helps preserve kidney function."
Published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition, the study titled Vegetarian Dietary Patterns and Diet-Related Metabolites Are Associated With Kidney Function in the Adventist Health Study-2 Cohort highlights its significance for individuals at higher risk for chronic kidney disease, particularly older adults.
According to the research, chronic kidney disease affects over 800 million people worldwide and resulted in more than $85 billion in Medicare expenditures in the U.S. in 2020. The study emphasizes that diet plays a crucial role in kidney health, suggesting that plant-based diets could be a cost-effective prevention strategy.
The researchers analyzed data from nearly 900 participants, drawn from the Adventist Health Study 2, which encompasses around 96,000 Seventh-day Adventist individuals in the U.S. and Canada. Participants completed a questionnaire detailing their food intake across over 200 items and provided blood samples that were tested for diet-related metabolites and creatinine to determine eGFR.