PKD Life - Spring 2020 - 6

EATING WELL

Changing
Dietary Needs
What you should and
shouldn't eat, depending
on your stage of PKD.
By Christina Frank

kidneys are instrumental in mainY our
taining the proper balance of nutrients

A Note About Potassium

in your body. They filter waste products and
extra water from the blood, and they balance salts and minerals-such as calcium,
phosphorus, sodium, and potassium-that
circulate in the blood.
Every person with PKD will have different
dietary needs based on body weight, lifestyle
habits, and any other conditions he or she
may have, such as hypertension or diabetes.
Here, we offer a general guide to the
most important nutritional considerations
and recommendations according to the
stage of your disease.

EARLY STAGES, 1-3

In the early stages of PKD, the most important thing is to eat a diet that is varied,
well-balanced, and healthy, say Rachael
Majorowicz, R.D.N., and Rebecca Schaffer,
M.S., R.D.N., registered dietitians at the
Mayo Clinic. They recommend that patients
follow the principles laid out in the DASH
(Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
diet or the Mediterranean diet.
The DASH diet focuses on low-fat foods,
lean sources of protein (such as fish, poultry, and nuts), whole grains, and fruits and
vegetables. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole
grains, and vegetable oils are the basis of
the Mediterranean diet, with fish being the
main source of protein, while poultry and
dairy products are advised in moderation.
In addition, it is recommended to:

6

Drink a lot of
water. People with
PKD should drink a
minimum of 3 liters of
water per day to reduce
the risk of kidney
stones. Drinking a large
amount of water may
also inhibit cyst growth.
Restrict sodium.
Too much salt is associated with high blood
pressure and a decline
in glomerular filtration
rate (GFR), so people
with PKD should

Dietitians Majorowicz and
Schaffer caution against
restricting potassium in
the early stages of PKD.
"We've found that patients
often restrict when there's
no need for it yet," they
say. "As a result, they're
missing out on a lot of
good nutrition-and not
only just good vitamins
and minerals and antioxidants and fiber, but things
that can actually help take
some of the workload off
of the kidneys."

restrict daily consumption
of sodium to 1,500 to 2,300
milligrams. (By comparison, most Americans eat
more than 3,500 milligrams each day.)
Eat modest amounts
of protein. The amount
of protein a person with
PKD needs varies and is

based on body weight.
In the general population, 0.8 grams of
protein per kilogram of
body weight is recommended. For people
in the early stages of
kidney disease, the
recommendation could
be closer to 0.6 grams
per kilogram.

PKD LIFE * SPRING 2020

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PKD Life - Spring 2020

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