A new study has identified a low-salt, fasting-mimicking diet that significantly improves kidney function in both animal models and human patients with chronic kidney disease.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, in collaboration with the USC Longevity Institute of the Davis School of Gerontology and international partners, have discovered a promising dietary intervention that might revolutionize the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, reveals that a low-salt, fasting-mimicking diet (LS-FMD) can significantly improve kidney function and slow disease progression.
Chronic kidney disease involves the irreversible loss of podocytes, critical cells in the kidney’s glomerular filtration barrier. This deterioration leads to end-stage kidney disease for which there is currently no effective prevention strategy.
Led by Laura Perin, co-director of the GOFARR Laboratory at The Saban Research Institute, and Valter Longo, professor at the USC Longevity Institute of the Davis School of Gerontology, the research team conducted experiments on animal models with CKD.
They administered six cycles of LS-FMD, reflecting the dietary recommendations for CKD patients.
Promising Results in Animal Models
The results were astonishing.
The specialized diet not only slowed the deterioration of kidney structures but also induced the reprogramming of podocytes, effectively restoring the kidney’s filtration system.
The treated rodents exhibited significant reductions in key markers of kidney damage, such as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), compared to rodents on a regular diet.
“When we examined these animal models, we found that long-term kidney function and structure was improved,” Perin said in a news release. “The transcriptional profile of the major kidney structures resembled those of a healthy rat. We saw evidence on the molecular and cellular level that this fasting-mimicking diet induces podocyte reprogramming and restores renal function in glomerulopathy.”
Pilot Study Shows Human Benefits
Translating this success to humans, a pilot study involving 13 CKD patients showed that the LS-FMD diet was kidney-protective, reducing proteinuria and improving endothelial function.
The observed changes in gene expression suggest that the diet’s benefits in rodents may extend to human patients, offering a new potential intervention for managing kidney disease.
“These results show that FMD cycles can promote reprogramming/regeneration in mice and rats but also increase circulating progenitor cells in humans, so they should be tested further for treatment of progressive kidney diseases,” Longo said in the news release. “This fasting-mimicking diet seems to induce changes in gene expression that slow kidney degradation, suggesting potential interventions for patients with chronic kidney disease.”
Significance and Future Implications
This research highlights the significant potential of dietary interventions in treating chronic kidney disease, a condition that affects millions worldwide and currently has limited treatment options. The study’s findings suggest that controlled dietary modifications could preserve kidney function and delay disease progression, offering hope for patients battling this debilitating condition.
As the next step, the researchers advocate for larger, comprehensive clinical trials to confirm these results and explore the feasibility of LS-FMD as a standard therapeutic approach for CKD.
By illuminating the link between diet and kidney health, this study paves the way for innovative, non-invasive treatment strategies, promising renewed vitality and improved quality of life for those with chronic kidney conditions.