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Gut Microbiome May Influence CKD Progression
Published in Kidney International
Expanded Summary
Researchers analyzed stool samples from 1,200 CKD patients across three continents and compared them with healthy controls.
Key Findings
- Primary finding:
- CKD patients had significantly lower gut microbial diversity and higher levels of uremic toxins like indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol.
- Correlations:
- These toxin levels strongly predicted faster eGFR decline over 2 years.
- Interventions studied:
- High-fiber diets, prebiotics, and probiotic supplementation improved gut profiles. In a small subset, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) showed reduced toxin levels.
Implications
The gut-kidney axis may offer new therapeutic targets. Adjusting the microbiome through diet or medical intervention could reduce inflammation and slow CKD progression.
What This Means for You
Consider discussing gut health with your healthcare team. Simple dietary changes like increasing fiber intake or adding fermented foods might help support your kidney health through improved gut function.