Protein Diet and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common health problem worldwide. CKD staging or classification, together with patients' prognosis and treatment plan depend on the patients' kidney function which is assessed by measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Estimated GFR can be obtained using serum or plasma creatinine as a main variable in equations or formulae such as Cockcroft-Gault equation, MDRD equation (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease), the Schwartz and Counahan-Barratt formulae. These equations, though widely accepted, still have to be adjusted or validated among different groups of patients according to the variation in some factors such as race, diet, and genetic heterogenicity. Diet, especially the high protein load, can affect GFR representing the renal functional reserve. A high protein diet can cause an increase in GFR that lasts for many hours. Long-term consumption of vegetarian diet which is low in protein and contains only protein from plant sources can cause a low baseline GFR while the renal functional reserve is still preserved. This paper aims to remind of the role of protein diet effect on GFR measurement especially when assessing the renal function in vegetarians or individuals on long-term low-protein intake.

Dietary Fiber Intake (Supplemental or Dietary Pattern Rich in Fiber) and Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

“…A vegetarian dietary pattern is usually richer in fibers, but it is lower in animal protein, which may be more suitable for these patients and exert beneficial glomerular effects [ 40 ]. Higher eGFR has been demonstrated in patients with a normal renal function on an animal protein diet in comparison with a person on a vegetable-based diet [ 41 , 42 ].…”

Functional and Morphostructural Evaluation of the Kidneys of Wistar Rats after the Use of a Protein-Based Food Supplement

“…Healthy vegetarians are known to have a statistically reduced baseline GFR but a maintained ability to increase the GFR after a protein-rich diet unlike patients with a reduced number of nephrons whose renal functional reserve can be decreased or absent [9]. Another mechanism suggested to increase the GFR was the reduced sensitivity of glomerulotubular balance.…”

Nutritional Assessment of Denture Wearers Using Matched Electronic Dental‐Health Record Data

“…The following laboratory values were retrieved from the laboratory records which may qualify as a nutritional marker: serum albumin, calcium, creatinine, protein, hemoglobin (Hb), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), total cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TGL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values. [53][54][55][56]…”