Nutrition with one kidney

fteale

How much should this affect someone's diet? How much protein should someone with around 60% of normal kidney function have? Is it dangerous for them to do too much exercise? I know sodium needs to be kept to a minimum, and caffeine too, but the doctors don't seem to worry about anything else.

SaraTonin

This sounds like a doctor question... They SAY that you only need one functioning kidney to do the same as anyone with two kidneys, and protein is usually only a problem for people with kidney disease, so it seems to me like you should be just fine.

From what I've seen on the internet it just says to stick to a good balanced diet with lots of veggies, water, and exercise. Sounds like anyone's diet! And also to avoid contact sports that can be dangerous, like football, hockey, wrestling.

http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/onekidney.cfm

audjrey

Eating Sensibly

"Having a single kidney does not mean that you have to follow a special diet. You simply need to make healthy choices, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy foods. Limit your daily salt (sodium) intake to 2,000 milligrams or less if you already have high blood pressure. Reading nutrition labels on packaged foods to learn how much sodium is in one serving and keeping a sodium diary can help. Limit alcohol and caffeine intake as well.

Avoid high-protein diets. Protein breaks down into the waste materials that the kidneys must remove, so excessive protein puts an extra burden on the kidneys. Eating moderate amounts of protein is still important for proper nutrition. A dietitian can help you find the right amount of protein in your diet."

Taken from http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/solitarykidney/

That said, I'd take this advice and speak with a dietician who has great knowledge about living with one kidney.

fteale

Thanks. It's not for me, it's my youngest son who has only one kidney. We see a paed every year, but the advice is always "oh just let him eat what he wants" which I am not happy with as left to his own devices he'd eat meat meat and more meat with some chips on the side. The boy is protein and salt obsessed. He doesn't ever stop, though. He is on the go 12 hours a day, so maybe he does need the protein.

Unknown

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