PKD Life - Summer 2021 - 6

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EATING WELL
Can the Keto
Diet Treat PKD?
Preliminary studies are promising,
but there's still a lot we don't know.
By Jessica Brown
A s you know, what you
eat plays a critical role in
managing PKD. While dietary
plans for people with PKD
vary depending on the stage
of their illness and other
health concerns they may
have, the eating plan they're
on likely
Avocado,
coconut, and
ol ive oil s
are ke
to -
fr iendly.
doesn't
stray very
far from the
standard
dietary
guidelines.
But recent
research
suggests
that the keto diet-a more
extreme eating plan that's
high in fat, moderate in
protein, and low in carbohydrates-may
decrease cyst
size in animal models of PKD.
While it's an exciting
fi nding, experts caution
that there's a lot you need to
know before you consider
going keto.
WHAT IS THE
KETO DIET?
Recommended ratios vary,
but followers of the keto diet
may get up to 80% of their
daily calories from fat. Eating
so few carbohydrates causes
6 PKD LIFE * SUMMER 2021
you to enter ketosis, a state
in which your body produces
ketones for energy instead of
relying on glucose from carbs
for fuel. Because renal cysts
get energy from glucose, the
thinking is that the keto diet
could help shrink cysts in
people with PKD because it's
extremely low in carbs.
Shan Vincent has PKD and
has followed a modifi ed keto
diet (70% fat, 20% protein,
10% carbs) for the past two
years, with much success.
" It's been life-changing for
me, " Vincent says. " I'm in far
less pain and I only need half
the amount of medication I
used to take. "
POSSIBLE RISKS
As of now, the only studies
to show a positive eff ect
on kidney cysts have been
performed in rodents and
cats. " There are several pilot
studies being conducted on
humans with PKD, but the
fi nal results are not yet available, "
says Frederic Rahbari
Oskoui, M.D., director of the
Cystic Kidney Diseases Clinic
at Emory University.
" While following a
modifi ed version of the diet
appears to be a promising
PKD Life - Summer 2021

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