Next Article in Journal
Relationship Between Food Habits, Nutritional Status, and Hormone Therapy Among Transgender Adults: A Systematic Review
Previous Article in Journal
Micronutrient Intake during Complementary Feeding in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Comparing Early and Late Introduction of Solid Foods: A Secondary Outcome Analysis
Previous Article in Special Issue
Ketogenic Interventions in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression

by
Melina Messing
,
Jacob A. Torres
,
Nickolas Holznecht
and
Thomas Weimbs
*
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2024, 16(19), 3281; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193281
Submission received: 12 August 2024 / Revised: 10 September 2024 / Accepted: 24 September 2024 / Published: 27 September 2024

Abstract

Understanding chronic kidney disease (CKD) through the lens of evolutionary biology highlights the mismatch between our Paleolithic-optimized genes and modern diets, which led to the dramatically increased prevalence of CKD in modern societies. In particular, the Standard American Diet (SAD), high in carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods, causes conditions like type 2 diabetes (T2D), chronic inflammation, and hypertension, leading to CKD. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a genetic form of CKD, is characterized by progressive renal cystogenesis that leads to renal failure. This review challenges the fatalistic view of ADPKD as solely a genetic disease. We argue that, just like non-genetic CKD, modern dietary practices, lifestyle, and environmental exposures initiate and accelerate ADPKD progression. Evidence shows that carbohydrate overconsumption, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance significantly impact renal health. Additionally, factors like dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, nephrotoxin exposure, gastrointestinal dysbiosis, and renal microcrystal formation exacerbate ADPKD. Conversely, carbohydrate restriction, ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT), and antagonizing the lithogenic risk show promise in slowing ADPKD progression. Addressing disease triggers through dietary modifications and lifestyle changes offers a conservative, non-pharmacological strategy for disease modification in ADPKD. This comprehensive review underscores the urgency of integrating diet and lifestyle factors into the clinical management of ADPKD to mitigate disease progression, improve patient outcomes, and offer therapeutic choices that can be implemented worldwide at low or no cost to healthcare payers and patients.
Keywords: polycystic kidney disease; chronic kidney disease; disease progression; nutrition; dietary guidelines polycystic kidney disease; chronic kidney disease; disease progression; nutrition; dietary guidelines

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Messing, M.; Torres, J.A.; Holznecht, N.; Weimbs, T. Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression. Nutrients 2024, 16, 3281. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193281

AMA Style

Messing M, Torres JA, Holznecht N, Weimbs T. Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression. Nutrients. 2024; 16(19):3281. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193281

Chicago/Turabian Style

Messing, Melina, Jacob A. Torres, Nickolas Holznecht, and Thomas Weimbs. 2024. "Trigger Warning: How Modern Diet, Lifestyle, and Environment Pull the Trigger on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression" Nutrients 16, no. 19: 3281. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193281

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop