Chronic Kidney Disease: Improve Kidney Function with Baking Soda

Kidney function is vital to good health. According to the National Kidney Foundation, about 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease. Millions more are at risk. For many people who develop kidney disease, kidney function declines slowly and without specific symptoms. But chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. Now, at the Royal London Hospital in England, researchers found that a simple "kitchen cupboard" remedy, baking soda, significantly slowed kidney disease. Doctors reported that "the rate of kidney function decline was about two-thirds slower in the patients who took sodium bicarbonate than in other patients." That's great news!

What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a broad category. The National Kidney Foundation says it includes "conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy." As "kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick." Most people, however, may not experience any severe symptoms until kidney disease is quite advanced.

When wastes are not adequately filtered and processed by the kidneys, a condition called metabolic acidosis can result. The participants in the Royal London Hospital study had chronic kidney disease with metabolic acidosis. According to the Biology-Online dictionary, this means a person's blood pH is abnormally low. For some people, metabolic acidosis can cause rapid breathing. But as with kidney disease, there are no specific symptoms of metabolic acidosis.

Did baking soda really help some patients with chronic kidney disease?

Yes, baking soda really did help some patients with chronic kidney disease and metabolic acidosis. In the Royal London Hospital study, reported in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, participants took a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in tablet form.

Science Daily reported that "in patients taking sodium bicarbonate, the rate of decline in kidney function was similar to the normal age-related decline." Further, according to lead researcher Magdi Yaqoob, MD, the patients taking baking soda were better off nutritionally. The increase in sodium did not cause blood pressure problems.

Baking soda and kidney health

Decline in kidney function can impact a host of health factors. The National Kidney Foundation states chronic kidney disease may be associated with feeling more tired and having less energy than usual; concentration troubles; trouble sleeping; night-time muscle cramping; swollen feet and ankles; eye puffiness; dry, itchy skin; and frequent urination.

Even if lab tests show "normal" kidney function, a person is at increased risk for chronic kidney disease if tests show kidney damage. According to Clinical Practice Guidelines published by the American Association of Family Physicians, one widely-used marker of kidney damage is persistent proteinuria, which means excess protein in the urine.

Since kidney disease may develop slowly at first, markers of kidney damage can serve as an important warning. The principle of the Royal London Hospital study may be that managing blood pH, by early, judicious use of small amounts of baking soda, is a helpful step in avoiding chronic kidney disease.

More B. A. Rogers: Vitamin C May Lower C-Reactive Protein, an Important Biomarker of Inflammation and Top Five Uncomplicated Foods to Raise HDL "Good" Cholesterol.

The National Kidney Foundation sponsors the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP®). KEEP "offers free screening for those at risk - anyone 18 years and older with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease. It is designed to raise awareness about kidney disease among high risk individuals and provide free testing and educational information, so that kidney disease and its complications can be prevented or delayed." Start here to find a KEEP screening near you.

Sources:

"Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)," National Kidney Foundation.

Robert Preidt, "Baking Soda May Be Key Ingredient for Kidney Patients," HealthDay, Medline Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

"Metabolic acidosis," Biology-Online.

"Baking Soda: For Cooking, Cleaning, And Kidney Health?," Science Daily.

Cynda Ann Johnson, M.D., M.B.A., et al., "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults: Part I. Definition, Disease Stages, Evaluation, Treatment, and Risk Factors," American Academy of Family Physicians.