What To Eat When PKD Develops to Kidney Failure

2014-08-16 08:13

What to eat and to avoid becomes very important for patients with kidney failure caused by PKD, as at that time kidneys have become extremely weaken and successful protection of residual kidney function may help to improve life expectancy and prolong lifespan. Well, what to eat on earth when PKD develops to kidney failure?

Foods recommended for patients with kidney failure caused by PKD

Foods with high quality protein

Protein is the basic of life, but due to kidney damages, PKD patients need to limit protein intake according to their kidney condition. In general, for kidney failure patients who have not started dialysis, they need to limit protein intake to 0.2 gram per kilogram of body weight per day. And for these who are on dialysis, they need to ingest much more protein (1.2g/kg/d is needed) to replenish the one lost during dialysis. High quality protein provides us with necessary nutrient and meanwhile produces less urea nitrogen which is a waste needs to be excreted though kidney. Therefore, high quality protein foods are more preferable compared with low quality protein foods. In our daily diet, high quality protein can be found in lean meat, milk, egg white and fish.

High fiber foods

High fiber foods are recommended because Polycystic Kidney Disease patients run high risk for constipation due to strict diet limitation. Kidney is a very organ and when it is damaged, we need to make diet changes to reduce the burden of it. Eating much more high fiber foods like corn, avocado, whole oatmeal and broccoli and so on.

Low-phosphorus foods are suggested

Kidney is also responsible for electrolyte balance. When PKD develops to kidney failure, patients develop hyperphosphatemia easily and this always result in hypocalcemia. For PKD patients, if they have severe hypocalcemia, they are more likely to experience bone pain, bone fracture and even osteoporosis. For this reason, low-phosphorus foods like un-enriched rice milk, bread rolls, canned peaches, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, cauliflower, eggplant and onions are suggested.

Lastly, fluid intake is also a concern for kidney failure patients

Usually, fluid intake, including daily soup, needs to be limited as well when PKD develops to kidney failure stage, especially when patients start dialysis. If you are a kidney failure patient, you can consult our online doctors about how much fluid is needed everyday. I am sure our doctors will help you calculate the more proper fluid intake according to your illness condition.

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