Understanding and following appropriate nutrition guidelines can be one of the most difficult parts of living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Your diet recommendations may be different at different stages of disease progression. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen at Rigshospitalet in Denmark altered a plant-based diet, called the Nordic Diet, to include common foods found in that region. Learn more about the study and how it may benefit people with stage 3 or 4 CKD.* 

What is the Nordic diet?

Similar to the Mediterranean diet, the traditional Nordic diet promotes mostly plant-based foods, such as whole grains, vegetables (especially root vegetables like beets, turnips, and carrots), fruits (especially berries), low-fat dairy, and seafood. It encourages less sugar and double the amount of fiber and seafood than traditional diets in the United States. 

How did researchers alter the Nordic diet? 

While the Nordic diet promotes healthy eating habits for the general population, researchers worried about how the high amounts of protein and phosphate might affect CKD patients. Thus they created the Nordic renal (kidney) diet and limited foods high in protein and phosphorus. The new diet included all of the foods allowed in the Nordic diet, but restricted foods such as:

• Rye bread, 
• Dairy products, 
• Nuts, and 
• Animal-based protein sources. 

What researchers did

After developing the Nordic renal diet, the researchers recruited 18 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), or kidney function, between 16 and 45. Each participant followed a habitual Danish diet for seven days, then the new Nordic renal diet for seven days, with a washout period in between. Kidney function and other kidney-related measurements were compared and analyzed after each diet period. 

What they found

After the analysis, the research team found positive results in their patients with stages 3 and 4 CKD. Some of their findings included:

• Reduction in urine phosphorus levels, with an average decrease of 313 mg/d
• Reduced metabolic acidosis, or the buildup of acid in the body, which can worsen kidney disease
• Fewer uremic toxins (a by-product of protein) in the blood 

What it means

The researchers concluded that their findings encouraged further investigation to fully understand the protective benefits of the new Nordic renal diet on kidneys. 

Nutrition plays an important part in managing and treating CKD. The benefits of a plant-based diet such as the Nordic renal diet may help preserve kidney function in patients with stage 3 and 4 CKD. Speak with your doctor or registered dietitian to learn more about how a plant-based diet may affect your kidneys, and if it may be right for you. 

 *Persaud, N. (2022, October 19). New Nordic Renal Diet May Benefit Patients With Moderate CKD. Renal and Urology News. https://www.renalandurologynews.com/home/news/nephrology/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/new-nordic-renal-diet-may-benefit-patients-with-moderate-ckd/