I’d like to share some great information and help for improving kidney function that I have greatly benefited from. I was diagnosed with CKD stage 3A three years ago. I have done much research (and prayer) and have seen considerable improvement in my kidney function since then after I began to implement the following.
I started intermittent intermittent fasting as well as taking resveratrol for the past few months. My last lab work has shown significant improvement in my kidney function results for which I am so thankful to God!! My creatinine level decreased 12 points, my eGFR increased 10 points (now in the normal lab range for my age) and my urine protein decreased over 10 points – and I have only been on this protocol of intermittent fasting and taking resveratrol for about eight weeks! This is very exciting and hopeful information for people with CKD I just have to wonder why doctors aren’t recommending them to kidney patients!
Here are two links about both and confirmed the benefit of them if anyone is interested:
Thank you for your information about reservatrol and congratulations on your success. That is wonderful. Can you tell me how much reservatrol you started with and how yow much you took over time with no adverse side effects. Did it cause any side effects? When fasting, did you drink water, juice, eat a cracker, anything? Thank you so much. This is very interesting. 👍
I take 1000 mg resveratrol daily in two divided doses with a meal. I use Approved Science brand available though Amazon. No side effects at all…just feel healthier and lost extra weight that was needed since I’ve been taking it, less inflammation and lowered cholesterol levels
I do intermittent fasting 16 hours and eat 8 hours. I have a little bit of wine before going to sleep, and maybe a cracker but nothing else but water as much as I want. It was a little difficult when I first started and I gradually increased the fasting time. Now it is fairly easy (especially when motivated by my improved lab results!)
Thank you for sharing this information. It is always exciting to hear from other CKD patients who have found ways to improve their kidneys and overall health.I have been in Stage 3 CKD since 2008. I have been following an intermittent fasting, plant based diet since 2019. My eGFR has improved some (went from 47 in 2019 to 53 currently). I also have hypercholesterolemia which has also improved slightly but maybe Resveratrol could help with lowering my LDL and total cholesterol numbers? I am seeing my PCP next week. I will ask her about Resveratrol.
Re your hypercholesterolemia, do you know your levels? Personally, we are far less concerned about cholestrol than most doctors. Various medical conditions eg kidney disease, can elevate it and cholestrol can be a good thing e.g. as you age.
The latest figures for my mum (CKD3 - see my response earlier to the OP) are:
(i) total cholestrol 7.1 mmol/l (~40% over-range)
(ii) triglycerides 1.3 mmol/l (~70% through Normal-range)
(iii) LDL/HDL 2.7 (my est. ~89% through Normal-range)
Note: LDL not measured for nearly 3y - so maybe medics also not concerned!!
My liver function tests are perfect. I drink a small amount of Merlot red wine each night. My cardiologist said it was actually good for me! Been doing that for many years…just a little glass ☺️😉
Congrats to you for an extremely good news story. It helps that you were motivated by loving life so you could change your lifestyle to incorporate intermittent fasting. Supplements actually caused my CKD and resveratrol was one of them so how did you choose a safe supplement without toxic fillers?
Also, did you have any guide when you started fasting?
There were maybe a dozen including antioxidants like polyphenols, niacin, co-q-10, tumeric, açaí, C & E vitamins, krill oil, etc ... nothing supposedly harmful. These are not regulated and can contain anything, you just don't know.
My mum has followed a naturopathic protocol for several years (CKD stage 3). Her improvements include:
(i) eGFR from 36 (post-nephrectomy 5y ago) to 76 latest
(ii) serum creatinine from 131 (post-nephrectomy 5y ago) to 72 latest
(iii) BP always normal after high for many years (allowing stoppage of 1 bisoprol tablet)
The protocol includes IF but more comprehensive - based on naturopathic principles - but individualised. Whilst tempting to copy others' protocols, theyre generally individual-specific and ideally a naturopathic nutrition should be consulted.
Re: "wonder why doctors aren’t recommending them to kidney patients", I think we all know the answer to that? Let me know if you want my views on that.
Interesting article. Glad it is working for you. The NIH article on resveratol states that clinical trials needed for CKD. "Although there are no reports of adverse effects related to the use of resveratrol in humans, even at high doses, clinical trials must be developed to explore resveratrol effects in CKD, considering its potential positive effects on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress control. Undeniably, resveratrol supplementation could represent a promising therapy to attenuate the progression of CKD, affect azotemia, and reduce morbidity and mortality by preventing or minimizing the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD."
Excited to hear about your progress HisslittleOne. Congrats. Could you please elaborate on your diet? What do you eat ? amounts? In particular total protein per day and calories? Also when in the day you start fasting and when you start eating? If you also can share the original disease that led to your CKD? I think each one who a ckd differs on the original disease. All this info will very much benefit everyone who read your post and got excited.
On a different but related issue, from all the posts in this group and others, it seems that level ckd3 has a good chance to improve to lower levels or remission but levels ckd4 and ckd5 , the best is to keep it from progressing. Just an observation for anyone who has cld4 or 5 and made a progress to lower stages to comment. Thanks.
I eat mainly plant based but have yogurt daily and a small piece of cheddar cheese (need calcium for weak bones). I eat fish once a week and no meat whatsoever. I drink one cup of coffee with my first meal at approximately 1:30-2 PM and a cup of green tea in the late afternoon. I eat dinner at approximately 7 PM and have a snack (cereal with nut milk or a vegan bar) at 9:30-10 PM. And then nothing else to eat until the next afternoon. I have a very small glass of wine (3 oz) before I go to sleep and drink as much water as I want/need throughout the day. Total protein is approximately 30 grams per day (I only weigh 104 lbs). My eGFR was in the low 50s until the time I started the IF and resveratrol protocol but now is 67 (up 15 points) so it went from stage 3 to stage 2. My creatinine was 1.04 and now is .91 (down 14 points).
I also have been on a small dose of Losartan for a few years but that has not affected my kidney function numbers either for good or bad. In fact, the resveratrol has improved my blood pressure so I have reduced the Losartan. No one knows why the kidney function began decreasing three years ago—there is a possibility it was caused by gadolinium dye used for an MRI right before the decline in eGFR.
Thank you very much for sharing these details. It is all about details in my opinion, This is important for all ckd patients. So to summarize your protocol; LPD mostly plant based of ~0.3 per lb per day + IF (16/8) + resveratrol suppl. 1000mg per day. Everything you mentioned is very important to think about and reconsider one’s diet and protocol. We all know that what works for someone may or may not work for others. So everyone on his/her own to decide what to do,
I would like to add that intuitively it could be the Intermittent fasting is the main player. It makes sense to me is when you fast 16 hrs and eat 8 hrs , the effort work of the kidney is reduced to 1/3. This is just a thought. Because there are 2 parameters in this case (IF and Rssverayrol suppl) we don’t know which one is causing the improvement. Just my thought. Whatever it is, I am very happy to read that post,
Yes, I would assume the same about the intermittent fasting reducing the workload of the kidneys. The resveratrol has some good verified benefits to the body and I certainly have reaped much benefit from it aside from my kidney function. I’m just grateful for any thing that by the grace of God is helping improve my kidney health!
So pleased for your success and congratulations on your improvement. Like you I’m trying to increase my kidney function and decrease my creatinine. Unfortunately it’s in my dna as my mums kidneys are failing too. I’ve been trying everything but I will look at the links you provided and see if my doctor will prescribe them for me. Thanks for sharing 😊
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