Steve Yap
GLOBALLY, the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has increased some 400% over the past 20 years (US Renal Data System, 2006).
More than 20,000 Malaysians are currently on dialysis and each year, thousands of new patients are going for dialysis.
Nephrotic syndrome may be confirmed by checking for symptoms such as proteinuria and hematuria as well as physical signs like edema (swelling) and anemia (pale looking).
The level of creatinine in the blood shows whether a person’s kidneys are removing waste products efficiently or not. Having too much creatinine is a sign that a person is suffering from kidney damage.
According to the US National Kidney Disease Education Programme, chronic kidney disease is deemed to be present when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is less than 60 millilitres per minute.
Proteinuria (protein in blood) is a sign of chronic kidney disease, which can result from diabetes, high blood pressure, and inflammation disorders in kidneys.
Large amounts of protein in the urine may cause it to look foamy while urinating. While protein is being removed from the body, blood no longer soaks up enough fluid, so edema (swelling in the hands, feet, abdomen, and/or face) results. More than 10% of the population may have stage one kidney disease, defined as the presence of urine microalbuminuria or a low eGFR.
Lower haemoglobin level, higher serum uric acid level, self-reported history of nocturia, and family history of kidney disease are independent risk factors for ESRD.
The US National Institute of Health claims that proteinuria is the best predictor of progressive kidney failure in diabetic patients.
Laboratory testing may be the only economically feasible way to test for proteinuria, before extensive kidney damage occurs.
The urine microalbumin test evaluates urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. A grossly elevated microalbumin level is the first sign of kidney damage.
Arterial hypertension facilitates kidney stone formation and fibrosis and scarring of the renal glomeruli (FSGS), which cause asymptomatic proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome with or without renal insufficiency.
The most common signs of glomerulo-sclerosis are proteinuria leading to renal failure.
Hematuria (blood in urine) may be linked to strenuous exercise, kidney stones, enlarged prostate, kidney injury, kidney infection or drugs such as aspirin, penicillin and heparin.
Besides lower back pain and anaemia, there are no obvious physical symptoms of this disorder. Unless the blood is fresh, early stage hematuria is difficult to detect visually.
Hyperuricemia (serum urate concentration >6.8 mg/dl) is also an independent predictor of renal disease. The medical issue may not be with the amount of uric acid produced by the body but more specifically the inability of kidneys in excreting it.
Complementary treatment covers some or all of these dietary and lifestyle changes:
>> Lower intake of high-fructose beverages, sweet fruits or their juices since they are linked to elevated uric acid and kidney disease;
>> Increase intake of nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich berries, citric fruits and vegetables since these are inversely related to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure;
>> Avoid or reduce intake of meat or meat products and alcohol since these are positively associated with arterial blood pressure and renal damage;
>> Restrict salt intake;
>> Raise intake of potassium-rich food such as sengkuang, ubi kayu leaves, banana and tomato. A high-potassium/low-sodium diet can normalise blood pressure in patients having ‘essential’ hypertension;
>> Get seven hours of sleep at night because inadequate sleep has been found to be a risk factor for hypertension;
>> Use moderate amounts of easy-to-digest plant protein such as soy isolate for beverages and soups instead of animal/poultry protein which stress renal functions;
>> Eat small amounts of fatty fish two to three times/week for its rich omega-3 fatty acids to suppress inflammation; and
>> Avoid pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats from corn, sunflower or soy although they are from plant sources. Use medium-chain triglycerides such as virgin coconut oil for cooking and salad dressings.
Nutraceuticals, to be administered by a licensed nutritional therapist, can include the following:
>> Potassium citrate to lower blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension;
>> Fish oil containing high EPA and DHA to lower hypertension and to lower cholesterol, triglycerides and fibrinogen;
>> L-arginine to lower arterial hypertension and to enhance physical endurance;
>> Magnesium citrate to normalise blood pressure; and
>> Blueberry extracts, green tea polyphenols, vitamin D3 and carnosine to raise stem cell production.
More than 20,000 Malaysians are currently on dialysis and each year, thousands of new patients are going for dialysis.
Nephrotic syndrome may be confirmed by checking for symptoms such as proteinuria and hematuria as well as physical signs like edema (swelling) and anemia (pale looking).
The level of creatinine in the blood shows whether a person’s kidneys are removing waste products efficiently or not. Having too much creatinine is a sign that a person is suffering from kidney damage.
According to the US National Kidney Disease Education Programme, chronic kidney disease is deemed to be present when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is less than 60 millilitres per minute.
Proteinuria (protein in blood) is a sign of chronic kidney disease, which can result from diabetes, high blood pressure, and inflammation disorders in kidneys.
Large amounts of protein in the urine may cause it to look foamy while urinating. While protein is being removed from the body, blood no longer soaks up enough fluid, so edema (swelling in the hands, feet, abdomen, and/or face) results. More than 10% of the population may have stage one kidney disease, defined as the presence of urine microalbuminuria or a low eGFR.
Lower haemoglobin level, higher serum uric acid level, self-reported history of nocturia, and family history of kidney disease are independent risk factors for ESRD.
The US National Institute of Health claims that proteinuria is the best predictor of progressive kidney failure in diabetic patients.
Laboratory testing may be the only economically feasible way to test for proteinuria, before extensive kidney damage occurs.
The urine microalbumin test evaluates urine for the presence of a protein called albumin. A grossly elevated microalbumin level is the first sign of kidney damage.
Arterial hypertension facilitates kidney stone formation and fibrosis and scarring of the renal glomeruli (FSGS), which cause asymptomatic proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome with or without renal insufficiency.
The most common signs of glomerulo-sclerosis are proteinuria leading to renal failure.
Hematuria (blood in urine) may be linked to strenuous exercise, kidney stones, enlarged prostate, kidney injury, kidney infection or drugs such as aspirin, penicillin and heparin.
Besides lower back pain and anaemia, there are no obvious physical symptoms of this disorder. Unless the blood is fresh, early stage hematuria is difficult to detect visually.
Hyperuricemia (serum urate concentration >6.8 mg/dl) is also an independent predictor of renal disease. The medical issue may not be with the amount of uric acid produced by the body but more specifically the inability of kidneys in excreting it.
Complementary treatment covers some or all of these dietary and lifestyle changes:
>> Lower intake of high-fructose beverages, sweet fruits or their juices since they are linked to elevated uric acid and kidney disease;
>> Increase intake of nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich berries, citric fruits and vegetables since these are inversely related to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure;
>> Avoid or reduce intake of meat or meat products and alcohol since these are positively associated with arterial blood pressure and renal damage;
>> Restrict salt intake;
>> Raise intake of potassium-rich food such as sengkuang, ubi kayu leaves, banana and tomato. A high-potassium/low-sodium diet can normalise blood pressure in patients having ‘essential’ hypertension;
>> Get seven hours of sleep at night because inadequate sleep has been found to be a risk factor for hypertension;
>> Use moderate amounts of easy-to-digest plant protein such as soy isolate for beverages and soups instead of animal/poultry protein which stress renal functions;
>> Eat small amounts of fatty fish two to three times/week for its rich omega-3 fatty acids to suppress inflammation; and
>> Avoid pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats from corn, sunflower or soy although they are from plant sources. Use medium-chain triglycerides such as virgin coconut oil for cooking and salad dressings.
Nutraceuticals, to be administered by a licensed nutritional therapist, can include the following:
>> Potassium citrate to lower blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension;
>> Fish oil containing high EPA and DHA to lower hypertension and to lower cholesterol, triglycerides and fibrinogen;
>> L-arginine to lower arterial hypertension and to enhance physical endurance;
>> Magnesium citrate to normalise blood pressure; and
>> Blueberry extracts, green tea polyphenols, vitamin D3 and carnosine to raise stem cell production.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/221859
