Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health concern, and nutrition plays an important role in its management. The dietary interventions aim to retard disease progression, reduce metabolic complications, and improve the quality of life. Traditional dietary strategies focused on protein restriction, but recent evidence highlights the importance of dietary quality and composition. Plant-based diets offer nephroprotective effects, including reduced intraglomerular pressure, lower uremic toxin generation, improved acid–base balance, and favorable modulation of the gut microbiota. However, they carry risks of protein-energy wasting, hyperkalemia, and micronutrient deficiencies if not carefully planned. Animal-based diets provide complete, high-biological-value proteins, and bioavailable micronutrients such as heme iron and Vitamin B12. These support muscle and anemia management in dialysis patients; however, in earlier stages of CKD, they may increase glomerular hyperfiltration, net acid load, and hyperphosphatemia, contributing to CKD progression and cardiovascular complications. Therefore, optimal dietary management requires individualized, culturally accepted recommendations that consider patient preferences and adherence. Further long-term randomized trials are needed to refine the dietary guidelines and optimize the CKD outcomes.
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Shadab et al. (2025) studied this question.
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