How much salt is good for an elderly CKD patient?

[waginger1111]

I just read a reply to a 77 years old lady advising her to keep her salt low. I wonder if it is good advice for an elderly patient according to a study reported in the periodical Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation titled

"Predictive effect of salt intake on patient and kidney survival in non-dialysis CKD: competing risk analysis in older versusyounger patients under nephrology care."

doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfaa252 Nephrol Dial Transplant (2021) 36: 2232–2240

"...older patients are not exposed to higher mortality across different levels of salt intake, while salt intake <6 g/day poses a greater risk of ESKD, possibly because of less preserved intrarenal haemodynamics..." (ESKD=end stage kidney disease.)

I am an 89 years old, G3b/A2 CKD patient. Since I raised my daily salt dose from under 5g to over 7g, my plasma sodium level went from chronically low to normal.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

I have a similar experience with sodium levels. I am 83 and was restricted to a certain amount of sodium, based on blood work. My recent bloodwork showed a below normal level of sodium for the first time. . I have Doctor appt next week and will discuss it. Maybe due to age and restriction.

[drmind in reply to orangecity41]

I think your water consumption effects your sodium level. I always test out low normal and my primary says ",you must be drinking a lot of water." Anyway, there are days when I really miss salty food and I indulge in some

[Darlenia]

I'm a big believer in keeping all electrolytes (salt is one of those) in the normal range. I passed out from low sodium and low chloride when I took salt out of my diet to be supportive to my hubby with late stage kidney disease. I thought it was perfectly fine to do that - after all, everyone (including the media) made salt look like a horrible, no good villain. However, it's a crucial element for proper cardiac function, mental function, and more. Driving salt really low also damages kidneys. I suspect many people, as they age, might have absorption issues with salt because, as a senior, I can ingest quite a bit of salt and it still stays low-normal. It might also be genetic. My grandfather, a gardener, "peacefully passed away" for unknown reasons sitting under a tree in hot weather. I think his salt levels went too low, he felt woozy, and that was that. I'm very conscientious now of keeping all my electrolytes in the normal range, particularly as I age. I have a deep appreciation for the human body at all stages of life.

[PKDpostTRANSPLANT]

That comment was from me...what I meant by eating low sodium was not to keep your sodium levels too low in your blood (those are not the same thing) but rather don't eat too much sodium, I apologize for the confusion. Please check with your doctor about what is right for you. I agree with Darlenia, monitoring your blood work to see where your own levels are at is important and it also does depend on your own water consumption as drmind mentioned. If your sodium is now in normal range it seems like you are doing a good job, but I am not a doctor.

I think Darlenia worded it very well, too little sodium in your blood is probably not good just as high sodium is not good. I personally aimed for the lower end of the normal range and I also had to eat very low sodium to achieve that. I also had high blood pressure and so low sodium is helpful for that as well. Your doctor will hopefully be able to point you in the right direction for your particular age/kidney issue/blood work etc.