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Review
. 2020 Feb;1461(1):25-36.
doi: 10.1111/nyas.13997. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Are low-carbohydrate diets safe in diabetic and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease?

Nia S Mitchell  1   2 , Julia J Scialla  3 , William S Yancy Jr  1   2   4
Affiliations
Review

Are low-carbohydrate diets safe in diabetic and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease?

Nia S Mitchell et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus and obesity both contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and they can accelerate the loss of kidney function. Dietary intake can potentially have wide-reaching effects on the risk of CKD/DKD and their progression by reducing weight and blood pressure, improving glycemic control, reducing hyperfiltration, and modulating inflammation. Low-carbohydrate (LC) diets can reduce weight and improve glycemic control, but the relatively higher protein content also raises concern in CKD/DKD. Empiric evidence supporting the kidney-related benefits or risks of LC diets is needed to understand the balance of these potential harms and benefits for patients with DKD and is the subject of our review.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; diabetic kidney disease; low-carbohydrate diets.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Diagram of the relationship between obesity, diabetes, CKD, and LC diets.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Proposed mechanisms for the effect of obesity on renal function.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Theoretical concerns about increased protein intake and kidney function.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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