A Plant-based diet is proven to prevent and reverse kidney stones and disease

Animal protein is harmful for the kidneys and their function.  Conversely, plant-based diets are beneficial to kidney function.

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Kidneys perform the life-sustaining role of filtering and returning to the bloodstream about 200 quarts of fluid every 24 hours.

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A primary function of the kidneys is to remove waste and excess fluid from the body through urine.  Producing urine involves complex steps of excretion and reabsorption and is necessary to maintain an appropriate balance of the body’s salt, potassium, acid, and chemicals.  Additionally, kidneys produce hormones that affect the function of other organs, such as hormones to stimulate red blood cell production, help regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism.

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The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions:

• Remove waste products and drugs from the body

• Release hormones that regulate blood pressure

• Produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones

• Control the production of red blood cells

• Balance the body's fluids

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The risk of kidney stones increases significantly with animal protein consumption.  

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Individuals with chronic kidney disease find that the symptoms are exacerbated with animal protein. 

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Animal protein is harmful for the kidneys and their function.  Conversely, plant-based diets are beneficial to kidney function.

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• Research supporting increased risk of kidney stones with animal protein consumption

  • Animal Protein and the Risk of Kidney Stones: A Comparative Metabolic Study of Animal Protein Sources - PubMed 

  • A Plant-Based Diet Prevents and Treats Chronic Kidney Disease 

  • Comparison of Two Diets for the Prevention of Recurrent Stones in Idiopathic Hypercalciuria

  • Dietary Protein and Potassium, Diet–Dependent Net Acid Load, and Risk of Incident Kidney Stones

  • Association of animal protein with kidney stones dating back to WWII

  • Should recurrent calcium oxalate stone formers become vegetarians?

  • Fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of kidney stones despite having purines

  • Potassium citrate, a medication often used to treat kidney stones, has ingredients that are often found in fruits and vegetables

  • Relationship of Animal Protein-Rich Diet to Kidney Stone Formation and Calcium Metabolism 

  • Plant and Animal Protein Intake and Risk of Incident Kidney Stones: Results from the Shanghai Men's and Women's Health Studies.

 

• Research supporting chronic kidney disease symptoms increased with animal protein

  • Adequacy of Plant-Based Proteins in Chronic Kidney Disease

  • Dietary Protein Restriction and the Progression of Chronic Renal Disease: What Have All of the Results of the MDRD Study Shown? Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group

  • Secondary Analyses of MDRD showing a significant benefit of low-animal-protein diets

  • Meta-analysis of low-animal-protein diets on the rate of kidney function decline

  • Knight et al. Annals of IM 2003

  • Azadbakht et al. J Ren Nutr 2009

  • Azadbakht et al. Diabetes Care 2008

  • Barsotti et al. Nephron 1996

  • Teixeira et al. J Nutr 2004

 

• Research showing that animal protein is harmful for the kidneys 

  • Nettleton et al. AJCN 2009

  • Yuzbashian et al. J. of Nephro. 2015

  • Oosterwijk et al. KI Reports 2019

  • Haring et al. J Ren N 2017

  • Lew et al. JASN 2017

  • Lin et al. CJASN 2010

  • Lin et al. AJKD 2011

  • Kontessis et al. KI 1990 

 

• Research showing plant-based diets benefit to kidney function

  • Stewart et al. 2019 JOJ Urology and Nephrology

  • Chauveau et al. 2018 NDT

  • Gluba-Brzozka et al. 2017 Nutrients

  • St-Jules et al. 2016 J. Ren. Nutr. 

  • Editorial by Moorthi et al. 2019 CJASN

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