Kidney Disease

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Do supplements help to increase GFR?

Hi everyone. I’m a new member who have recently been diagnosed with stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease ( CKD ) and besides prescribing Statins for my High Cholesterol (which is 5.5) my doctor will not offer any further help at this time. He says my Chronic Kidney Disease is not at an advanced stage for him to refer me to a Nephrologist and a Dietitian. My GFR is 45 and my Creatinine 111 and I really want to improve and prevent my CKD getting worse but I’m struggling to do this on my own.

I’m trying to do my own research but some of the information I’ve heard and read is contradicting. Can anyone recommend source of helpful information backed up by research and personal experience? Also, does anyone take and notice any improvement with supplements and herbs such as Co Enzyme Q10, Vitamin D, K2, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Nettle tea and

cinnamon? I am Vitamin D deficient so i’ve being taking 25mg daily for many years now. I’ve only recently found out that I need to take K2 with it. However, I’ve read that K2 clots the blood so I’ve NOT started taking it due to my family history of blood clots. Does anyone know If these supplements work? Thank you.

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Mr_Kidney

a month ago

First, begin to look for a new doctor. It's your health and if he won't abide by your wishes then you need to find a physician who is more receptive to your wants and needs. Not only should you see a nephrologist but you should also seek a referral for a Renal DIetitian. The sooner you begin the longer you can put off kidney failure.

To help clear up the way you are currently feeling, go to the website davita.com and register for a free, 90-minute Kidney Smart class in your area if you are in the USA. It will give you a lot of information on this illness and provide you with resources to help you maneuver through this. If you aren't in the USA or for even more information on CKD go to kidneyschool.org and you'll find a series of learning modules that will help you as well. Both of those sites will also help you develop questions to ask your new PCP and nephrologist about what else you can do to slow down the progression of CKD.

On the DaVita website I first mentioned, you can also look at their recipes for helping to slow the progression. Basically, you cut out beef, (all red meats), processed foods, eliminate smoking, and cut significantly back on alcohol. Also, cut back on sodium, protein, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. None of these things should be completely eliminated but a renal dietitian will help you develop the correct plan for you that will help greatly. Gather up your last years worth of blood and urine labs and bring them with you for the RD to help develop your kidney-friendly meal plan.

Also, avoid any supplements that weren't prescribed by a physician. They aren't regulated and you can't be sure of the actual content in many of them.

This will get you off to a good start but begin by cutting out your PCP.

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Mr_Kidney

in reply to steve680

a month ago

Very simple Steve. Not everyone has the same restrictions. DaVita offers those recipes for some folks who don't have that restriction. Initially, many RD's will have new to CKD patients cut out the red meat for a time to help the kidneys. When I first met my RD I was unaware of the cause of my CKD. I was advised to cut out all red meats and limit the other proteins to 8 oz. per day. By the second time I met with the RD, my nephrologist had determined the cause and the RD said I could include a three-ounce portion of red meat, well-cooked, every couple of weeks. By that time, I was feeling better with the meal plan we developed and made the decision to get my protein from sources other than beef. When my GFR had moved from it's low of 32 to it's "high" of 65, the RD determined that if I wanted I could have a beef meal once per week.

I didn't make the change to include beef. About 2 months later it was determined that I had gallstones. Even the leanest cuts of beef were going to be a problem.

Basically, until you know all of the health issues you have cutting out red meats is the way to go until a more knowledgeable person, your RD/Nephrologist, advises otherwise. My gallbladder is being removed next month and I'll have to make more adjustments to my intake. Also, regarding beef, the cuts with the most fat are the tastiest and the leanest cuts are not as tasty. My kidneys are doing fine, as my last GFR, early this month, had me at 57. However, with the gallbladder being removed, beef is out, and so are some types of fish.

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steve680

in reply to Mr_Kidney

a month ago

I understand, but DaVita's website doesn't mention anything about restrictions and implies that the recipes are OK for anyone with CKD stages 1-4. Even if someone has no beef restriction, anyone with CKD stage 3 or 4 should eat a minimal amount of beef as there is a correlation between the red meat consumption and winding up on dialysis. Also, DaVita's website doesn't mention anything about eating grass-fed beef which seems to be much preferred by the dietitians I've talked to, especially for someone with CKD. I would think that DaVita's website would be a little more "up to snuff" about what it labels as "kidney friendly". For instance, I need to really watch my phosphorus and it would be good if they had very low phosphorus modifications or versions of the recipes.

Sorry to hear about the gallstones. Good luck on the surgery next month.

Mr_Kidney

in reply to steve680

a month ago

I agree in part with what you are saying. Perhaps you need to direct those queries to DaVita directly.

When I recommend a kidney-friendly meal plan and a visit with a renal dietitian it is to establish a diet for someone based on their individual lab values. I use many of their recipes but I also advise you make adjustments and not to take them at face value. Many of their recipes also call for some salt. If I followed those recipes my problems with high blood pressure would be way out of control. You have to make adjustments for your own personal needs.

The same goes for your phosphorus levels. Look at the recipe, substitute where you can to tailor the recipe to fit your needs.

For someone who has not yet seen an RD, DaVita is a good place to start until you know what to zero in on.

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Mr_Kidney

in reply to Marvin8

a month ago

The information given me was a copy of a chart that the nurse had but it didn't mention where the chart came from so I can't help with that. I copied the information here for you. My instructions from them were to go only with the Very Low-Fat fish for at least the first 3 months as I recover from the surgery and continue to monitor my labs and see if the pain returns or my labs climb in areas.

Fat Content in a 3 ounce cooked Serving of Common Types of Fish and Shellfish

High Fat (10 grams or more)Herring, Mackerel, Sardines, Salmon (Atlantic, Coho, Sockeye and Chinook)

Medium Fat (5 to 10 grams)Bluefish, Catfish, Rainbow trout, Swordfish

Low Fat (2 to 5 grams)Tilapia, Halibut, Mussels, Ocean perch, Oysters, Pacific rockfish, Salmon (Chum, Pink)

Very Low Fat (less than 2 grams)Crab, Clams, Cod, Flounder/Sole, Haddock, Hake, Lobster, Mahi-mahi, Pollock, Scallops, Shrimp, Tuna

BassetmommerNKF Ambassador

a month ago

Hi GFR45,

I agree with Mr. Kidney, you need another doc. On your own, at least get to a dietician who can map out a meal plan for you. With good nutrition and eating a kidney friendly diet, you might be able to maintain your numbers.

Stay away fro supplements unless prescribed by the doc. You will want to get you Vit D up and that should have been something your doc told you. I take a much higher dosage as I was low at one time, and my doc prescribed the dosage. Gave me a lot more energy.

I too have issues with family blood clotting issues, so I do not take anything Vit K and I watch what I eat that is high in it.

Again, this is what the dietician can help you with. For now

Here is a simple plan to start:

1. Eat out infrequently. You have less control over your food choices.

2. No fast foods

3. No process foods such as frozen dinners or packaged products

3. Less meat the better, chicken and fish still have high potassium, eat sparingly

4. 1-2 cups of coffee and use real crème not non-dairy

5. Lots of water up to 2 liters unless told by the doctor to drink less or more

6. Incorporate more whole foods in your diet: vegetables and fruits

7. Little to no alcohol especially beer One glass of wine might be ok

8. Cook without salt. You will get used to it and then eating stuff with salt will taste bad

9. Do not take supplement, OTC drugs or other without checking with the doctor first.

10. Get Educated. Take classes on how to manage kidney disease. There are classes on the intranet as will as maybe by your local Kidney Foundation davita.com/education/kidney...

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Bet117NKF Ambassador

a month ago

No thanks needed, GFR45,

Your feelings are very normal. Whenever the word, kidney is mentioned, it can cause a pit in your stomach.

This is all a process; a journey which takes time to balance and organize. One step at a time. Kidney issues can't be cured, but they can be managed with the intent to stop or stabilize progression.

It really isn't a diet, but a bit of a lifestyle change.

Porridge, be it Oats or Cream of Wheat is good.

Eggs, fish and chicken.

Low salt, low protein and monitor of your dairy.

A lot of good vegetables such as onion, pepper, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant yellow and zucchini squash. Quorn is a meat substitute my friend has used instead of beef - her family had it in shepherd's pie and didn't know the difference.

Spices without salt make foods great.

Strawberries, blue berries and apples are excellent.

Drink water and eliminate dark colas when possible.

One day at a time, see the new GP and go from there to start.

Please reach out at any time as one of us will always reach back!

Bet

Zazzel

a month ago

There is one supplement you should definitely discuss with your doctor and that is fish oil. There are numerous articles about the effects of Omegas 3 for reducing inflammation, just google, “ is fish oil good for CKD.” However, trying to figure out which fish oil and how much and if it’s right for you, should be discussed with your doctor.

Eliminating inflammation in your body can help slow progression. Another way to do that besides all the great advice the others have given, is to also balance your Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio. When Steve mentioned grass fed, free range meet, the reason it is favored is not only for the benefits to the enrichment of the animal’s life, and to our soils, but also because free range, grass fed meat and dairy is higher in Omega 3. This includes yogurt. Yogurt coming from cows that are free range, grass fed are higher in a Omega 3. If you eat it for probiotic affects, avoid any sweetened versions and get only plain unsweetened.

The best oils to use which are a better ratio of Omega 3 to 6 would be olive oil, walnut oil, macadamia oil and flax oil ( never cook with flax). I take flax oil daily instead of fish oil as I can’t tolerate fish oil on a daily basis. I use it with a splash of vinegar for a dressing on my salad daily and in my morning veggie fruit smoothies. Beyond the large amounts of salt and sugar, another reason to avoid fast food and processed foods are the oils they use in the products which can also cause inflammation.

You’ll find we all have different approaches to diet and supplementation on here. I take a rather large amount of supplements, but I worked with several doctors on this for my special needs and it is quite dangerous to try and take that on by yourself. Mr Kidney mentioned Davita.com. I believe they along with the National Kidney foundation discuss supplements on their sites. Again, though, it is a guide and not accurate for everyone.