Nutritional patterns in chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health prob‑ lem due not only to the heavy burden of renal replace‑ ment therapy, but also to the increased cardiovascular risk and higher mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns play a more significant role than the nutrients in CKD. Thus, several macronutrients, especially high protein intake, could be risk factors for CKD, while a vegetarian, Mediterranean or a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet could be at least as effective as protein restriction in reduc‑ ing CKD progression. This review summarizes both the association between several macro‑/micronutrients and CKD, and the existing data on the relationship between dietary patterns and renal outcome.