Research from the University of Wollongong in Australia and the University of Newcastle in New South Wales indicates that a highly diverse, plant-rich diet can significantly improve the health of people with CKD. The research, which was published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, was led by Dr. Jordan Stanford, Associate Professor Kelly Lambert, and a team of clinical and microbiome experts.*

What The Researchers Did

Participants in the study were encouraged to consume more than 30 different plant foods per week, including a wide variety of:

• Fruits and vegetables,
• Whole grains, and
• Legumes, nuts, and seeds.

The diet was designed to enhance gut microbiome diversity and reduce the accumulation of uremic toxins, which are harmful byproducts that build up in the body due to impaired kidney function.

The intervention focused on abundance, encouraging dietary variety rather than restricting key food groups. This represented a marked shift from conventional kidney disease diets, which often warn against high-potassium plant foods.

What They Found

Participants who followed the diet showed notable improvements in several key health markers, including:

• Greater gut bacteria diversity, a sign of improved gut health, and
• Lower levels of blood and urinary toxins, which are often linked to disease progression.

These findings challenge the long-standing, cautious approach to plant consumption in CKD patients. “We were particularly excited to see that this relatively simple intervention could have such profound effects,” said Lambert, “especially for those with more advanced kidney disease.” 

What It Means

According to the research team, the more abundant and varied plant-diet approach can:

• Improve gut health,
• Reduce toxin levels, and
• Potentially slow disease progression.

The study not only challenges previous knowledge about diet in kidney disease but also points to a simple and inexpensive intervention that can improve the overall health and quality of life of people living with various stages of CKD. 

*Mayhew, K. (2025, March 26). Plant-based diet trial boosts health for people living with kidney disease. Medical Xpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-based-diet-trial-boosts-health.html#google_vignette 

To ensure that we always provide you with high-quality, reliable information, Responsum Health closely vets all sources. We do not, however, endorse or recommend any specific providers, treatments, or products, and the use of a given source does not imply an endorsement of any provider, treatment, medication, or procedure discussed within.