Planting a path to kidney health: The vegetarian diet and diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

About 40% of people with diabetes experience diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is the main cause of renal problems. The aberrant urine albumin excretion rate, diabetic glomerular lesions, and a reduction in glomerular filtration rate are its defining characteristics. Numerous studies have found a strong link between eating animal protein and conditions like glucagon activation, insulin resistance, proteinuria, microalbuminuria, and the worsening of kidney problems in diabetic individuals. A vegan diet, which forgoes all animal products including leather and other non-edibles like fish, shellfish, and insects as well as dairy, eggs, and honey, has demonstrated significant benefits. It has been connected to enhanced insulin sensitivity, less glucagon activation, a decreased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and a slowed rate of DN progression. According to several studies, avoiding animal products and switching to plant-based protein sources can be a better nutritional plan than simply limiting dietary protein. This change may prove very helpful in reducing the risk of kidney and cardiovascular illnesses, especially for those who have diabetes and severe insulin resistance in addition to CKD. A vegan diet contains considerable benefits for those with diabetes and CKD, acting as a brake on the advancement of DN and renal failure, according to the literature evaluation done for this study. Nevertheless, more interventional studies involving humans are needed to elucidate the processes underlying the increased insulin sensitivity brought on by vegan diets. It is also advised to conduct more research to fully explore the effectiveness and security of vegan diets in people with diabetes and DN.

Keywords

• chronic kidney disease
• plant-based diet
• diabetic nephropathy
• plant-based protein
• diabetes