Diet and gfr

[S_dillow]

Is it normal for your gfr to go up once you lose weight?can kidney. disease stopif you lose weight?

[Hidden]

When you eat healthier foods that don't make your kidneys work harder, control underlying conditions, and follow a medically approved exercise regimen it is possible to lose weight. Not everyone will, so if too much is coming off you need to speak to your doctors about that.

[S_dillow in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that.i thought following a diet and stuff stopped it

[Hidden in reply to S_dillow]

There is no way to stop it, you can only slow the progression.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Absolutely! It has been proven that carrying extra weight impacts the function of the kidneys. They are doing a lot of research and saying very obese folks do well if they can have bariatric surgery. There is a vast improvement in kidney function. I was part of a panel on an international workshop for NKF. It was all about CK and obesity.BUT..... and there is always a but, it is not advised for people in late stage CKD like 4 or 5. And there are other risks that have to be weighed ( no pun intended).

I am struggling to lose weight even though I follow a strict diet and log all my food. I went for bariatric surgery eval and was told no. I am now in the process of massive testing to find out why I cannot lose weight. I have lost 45 pounds in the last 3 years but I am totally stuck now. I am stage 4-5. BUT.... I have stayed pretty steady with my labs so the nephrologist is amazed. They figured I would be in dialysis 2.5 years ago.

Diet is crucial.

[Okiksaints1955]

My Nephrologist (in Singapore) and my sister (GP, Pedia, Marine, Airline, etc. in Au) explained to me this way.

1. Our body (specific our own) works in a fascinating way but not all is known. What and how it is now is a product of how we treated our body thru the years

2. Tests to determine how organs are functioning are snapshots of a particular day or period. They will vary with the next one depending on a lot of factors (again what we did on that specific in between period.

That is why my Nephrologist do not rely solely on one single test or various tests taken at one specific day. He looks at a range of dates and progression.

3. Specific to the kidney - for each stage of CKD, there is a range of test results. There are studies on those ranges but we have our own - unique to us only. This is what my Nephrologist first tried to establish. Baseline it, then he is able to somewhat predict the deterioration and stages to watch out (again, not perfect science)

4. So once I go into a specific stage, the results of all my tests (creatinine, eGFR, albumin, protein urea, cholesterol, kidney scan, MRI, radiation stress test, etc.) will be in that range. If I change anything (become vegan, change med, take vitamins, exercise more/less, smoke/dont smoke, lose/gain weight, eat fast food, salt/sugar intake, etc.) the results of my tests will be within that range (+- error factor). As long as it is within that range, I should be OK. I used to cheat (become healthy a week or two before the tests) until my Nephrologist of 14 years explain this to me at the start of our long relationship.

CKD can only be delayed, not heal.

5. Probably the best way to gauge the kidney function is biopsy. But that is invasive, thus done only when really necessary. This can show scarring, cancer cells, structure, etc. I have done 2 biopsies in the 35 years I had CKD.

Before my living kidney transplant, my creatinine was 5.5 and eGFR was 5. (I've read people doing dialysis at 10 eGFR) My Nephrologist gave me 1 more year to decide without going thru dialysis. But he also mentioned that the success rate is affected the longer I wait (once more, not a perfect science). So, within 3 months I had the transplant. The body works in a mysterious ways.

So, talk to your Nephrologist on better understanding of what I mentioned above. And he can probably create the same matrix specific to you.

Getting hang up on a single baseline taken on a specific day is like watching the TV headlines. Better if you read the whole newspaper or magazine article.

Hope this helps. Take care and be well.

[Blackknight1989]

What an excellent post by Okiksaints1955! I can’t add much except it has been my experience that if you drop extra weight creatinine and eGFR improve slightly. However, generally BP improves as well so the correlation may be between BP and kidney function tests.

[Okiksaints1955 in reply to Blackknight1989]

Thanks, BK1989.

I had an actual experience on weight loss and effect in test results.

About more than decade ago, my creatinine range 2,0 - 2.5. I just run the 42K Dec stanchart and the usual slowdown after that. Then came Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, and a cruise the following March. That period, I gained 6 lbs. I also contracted pancreatitis during the cruise. My creatinine shot up to 3.0. My Nephrologist (in his usual stern way) scolded me and ask me to do drastic changes. So, I trained for another 42K Sundown marathon (I only do 1 a year) to force myself. Also change my diet. After the marathon in July that year (lost 15 lbs) and subsequent series of tests for 6 months, the range stayed at 2.5-2.95. That is when my Nephrologist declared that I have most likely entered the next CKD stage.

Having experienced his point in reality, I came to understand his earlier explanation. And I paid particular attention to any drastic changes or spike in my activities. I stayed in that stage for 10 years before going to the next one. Lessons learned - I can only delay, no turning back the time

Hope this helps.

[Darlenia]

The short answer is - Yes, your numbers will stabilize and actually improve for a time. Simply bear in mind, however, that kidneys slowly lose function due to aging as does everything else. Extra weight accelerates that decline. The extra weight forces the kidneys to work harder and filter wastes above the normal level. It also invites diabetes and high blood pressure which damages the tiny vessels inside the kidneys. Extreme athletic behaviors can also be damaging. I followed my son, an ultramarathoner, during some of his 100 mile runs. Some wound up dehydrated, peeing blood, harming their kidneys. So, do everything in moderation, nothing to excess. If you're significantly overweight, by all means look into weight loss diets including stomach reduction surgery if diet doesn't work. A friend completely eliminated her diabetes and high blood pressure using the "stomach stapling" approach, consequently saving her organs. With regard to exercise, my son moderated his running after witnessing his father's kidney failure. You, too, can live long and well if you're intentional about it. Go for it!

[horsie63]

I might be the exception to the rule as I've gone mostly plant based with some chicken but I keep losing weight. My numbers are actually getting worse. It doesn't help that I have nausea and a lose of appetite too.