Unhealthy plant-based diet associated with higher risk of death in patients with CKD
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Key takeaways:
- Healthy and overall plant-based diets had a lower risk of all-cause mortality.
- An unhealthy plant-based diet was associated with higher risk of CKD progression, renal replacement therapy and all-cause mortality.
Patients with chronic kidney disease who followed a healthy or overall plant-based diet had a lower risk for all-cause mortality than those who followed an unhealthy plant-based diet, according to recently published data.
“Plant-based diets are healthful dietary patterns that have been linked to lower risk of chronic diseases,” Saira Amir, MD, MPH, of University of North Carolina Health Southeastern, and colleagues wrote. “However, the impact of plant-based diets on clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease is not well established.”
The prospective cohort study included 2,539 patients with CKD who were part of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study. Researchers evaluated patients’ responses on the diet history questionnaire and scored foods with negative or positive point values on three indices: overall plant-based, healthy plant-based (eg, whole grains, fruits and vegetables) and unhealthy plant based (eg, fruit juices, sugar-sweetened beverages and refined grains). All plant food was positively scored on the overall plant-based index, while animal foods were negatively scored.
The main outcomes researchers looked for were CKD progression, including a decline in eGFR, dialysis and kidney transplant and all-cause mortality.
Researchers logged 977 CKD progression events during a median follow-up period of 7 years and 836 deaths during a 12-year period. Risk of all-cause mortality was 17% (HR= 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.92) lower for every 10-point higher score on the overall plant-based diet index.
Patients who followed a healthy plant-based diet had a 17% (HR= 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.92) lower risk for all-cause mortality with every 10-point higher score.
An unhealthy plant-based diet was associated with a 14% (HR= 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25) higher risk of CKD progression for each 10-point higher score, as well as a slightly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR= 1.11; 95% CI, 1-1.23). Further, each 10-point higher score was associated with a 10% (HR=1.1; 95% CI, 0.99-1.23) higher risk of renal replacement therapy.
“It sounds like conventional wisdom, but the results of this study could have far-reaching implications,” Kevin Longino, National Kidney Foundation CEO, said in a press release. “These findings challenge some of the status quo in nutritional guidance while offering actionable insights for health care professionals and CKD patients, providing a potential avenue for enhancing their wellbeing — and even their survival.”
Reference:
New study finds significant impact of plant-based diets on chronic kidney disease patients. https://www.kidney.org/news/new-study-finds-significant-impact-plant-based-diets-chronic-kidney-disease-patients Published Dec. 14, 2023. Accessed Dec. 20, 2023.
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