Kidney disease alternative treatment by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

The two common causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure which are responsible for up to two-thirds of all cases. Diabetes happens when your blood sugar is too high causing damage to many organs in your body, including the kidneys and heart, as well as blood vessels, nerves and eyes. High blood pressure, or hypertension, develops when the pressure of your blood against the walls of your blood vessels increases. In healthy men of normal weight, small increases in weight increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Diet, fish and kidney disease
A Western-type diet that's high in red and processed meats, saturated fats and sweets is associated with an increased risk of kidney function decline. Eating fish twice a week may help prevent kidney disease in adults with diabetes. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2008.
   Carbonated beverages, which contain phosphoric acid, have been linked with diabetes, hypertension, and kidney stones, all risk factors for chronic kidney disease.

Supplements helpful for kidney disease
See the links provided above for diabetes and high blood pressure in order to naturally reduce your blood sugar and blood pressure. Following those suggestions could help improve your kidney function.

Acacia gum may be helpful in chronic kidney disease. So could gum arabic which has been tested in humans.
Alpha lipoic acid helps with blood sugar regulation and is a potent antioxidant, perhaps it can be helpful in limiting damage to the kidneys.
Fish oils could be helpful since they improve microcirculation.
Spirulina supplements have been studied in rodents and have provided benefits against gentamicin induced renal toxicity.
Thiamine may be helpful for kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes.

The effects of omega 3 fatty acids and coenzyme Q10 on blood pressure and heart rate in chronic kidney disease: a randomized controlled trial.
J Hypertension 2009.
Hypertension is a major determinant of progression of chronic kidney disease. Omega-3 fatty acids (omger3FA) protect against CVD via improvements in blood pressure, heart rate, vascular reactivity and serum lipids. Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ) may improve blood pressure and vascular function. This study determined whether omega-3 fatty acids and CoQ have independent or additive effects in improving the cardiovascular profile, particularly blood pressure and heart rate, in nondiabetic patients with CKD stages 3-4. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention, patients were randomized to either omega3 FA (4 g), CoQ (200 mg), both supplements or control (4 g), daily for 8 weeks. Results show that omega-3 fatty acids reduce blood pressure, heart rate and triglycerides in patients with CKD. CoQ had no independent effect on blood pressure but increased heart rate.

I have kidney disease (earlier stage). On a 24 hour urine creatine test my reading was 500 (should be under 150). My last test was over 800 so I am improving. My creatine is in the high range (over 2). I lift weights (powerlifting). Unfortunately taking creatine supplements seems to be out for me because of my naturally high creatine levels. Will those naturally high levels (without creatine supplimentation) still help me gain muscle mass? I also have to watch my protein intake because of my kidney disease. I just started weight lifting a few months ago because my boy has started doing it and it is something we can do together. I am 60 years old and weigh 150 lbs. My legally (raw) performed lifts are 320 Ibs for Deadlift, 200 lbs bench press and 200 lbs squat. This is not much weight in the powerlifting scene, but I noticed that it is not a bad starting point for the "skinny old men division". I have made definite early on gains. I would like to continue this with my boy, however the kidney disease makes it a real challenge even though I am a driven type person. I would appreciate any suggestions on diet or supplements to make gains from my workouts that I can safely incorporate taking my kidney disease into consideration.
   You probably mean creatinine rather than creatine when referring to the urine creatinine test and blood creatinine levels. Unfortunately those with kidney disease are advised to keep their intake of protein and creatine low. Therefore protein or creatine supplements are not advised and they work best for muscle tissue increase. Taking a creatine supplement increases the levels of creatinine in the blood and urine. I have not studied natural ways to increase muscle tissue or strength in those with kidney disease so I don't know which supplements are safe and effective.

What do you recommend for kidney failure? Is there anything that can reverse it? Currently at 15% kidney function. Polycystic Kidney disease was the diagnosis but not confirmed. Only that the kidneys are surrounded with many cysts but a biopsy cannot be accomplished.
   I have not studied the role of nutrition and supplements in the treatment of polycystic kidney disease. Keeping blood pressure under control can slow the effects of polycystic kidney disease.

My mother is 84. A recent routine battery of bloodwork shows that her kidney function is a bit low and her sodium level is low. Her doctor is not concerned about the levels, but she asked me to write and ask if there is a supplement she can take that improve these levels. She is in very good health. She takes 10 mg of Norvasc for blood pressure control, but no other prescription medications.
   Weak kidney function has many causes and it is impossible for me to know the cause, or if in her case it is a normal part of aging, without a full evaluation.

Research
Those who were born at a low weight have an increased risk of eventually developing kidney disease. Perhaps low-birth-weight infants -- those weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth -- may become susceptible to kidney disease as adults because they have fewer and smaller nephrons. Normally, each kidney has roughly one million nephrons, which are the basic filtering units of the kidneys, extracting waste from the blood and producing urine. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2009.