Bridging the Gap: Nutrition, Kidney Disease, and Health Equity

Presentation Summary: Nutrition for chronic kidney disease (CKD) has evolved beyond the traditional ‘renal’ diet that was overly restrictive, deficient in fiber, and excluded foods that have vast healthful benefits in the treatment of many co-morbidities to a plant-inclusive, or plant-dominant, nutrition approach. The favorable shift has been shown to reduce uremic toxins, reduce proteinuria, and temper glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline through a variety of mechanisms other than simply a reduction in dietary protein intake. This novel, inclusive approach to nutrition care and kidney disease is fast becoming mainstream and leads to improved patient satisfaction and adherence. This session incorporates a review of the growing literature that supports plant-based nutrition interventions and CKD, and the integration of plant-based protein to both meet daily needs and slow disease progression, while maintaining a balance of nutrients that historically have led to severe dietary restrictions. Additionally, the discussion will highlight the affordability of plant-based foods, which is a concern within the patient population struggling with CKD and who are typically impacted by health disparities and food insecurity. Learners will come away with an understanding of how to integrate plant-based foods into the CKD nutrition care plan and manage nutrients of consideration to potentially delay the progression of kidney disease and its associated comorbidities.