The National Kidney Foundation found that plant-based diets can lower the risk of chronic kidney disease, which can progress to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease.
Plant-based protein foods can slash the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new UK study.
The disease is potentially fatal because although it prevents the organs from functioning effectively, symptoms are presented only after the disease has progressed to an advanced stage.
The National Kidney Foundation led the research, which found that plant-based diets can lower the risk of the silent condition that can lead to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease.
The study’s findings
Biobank followed 117,809 participants for 9.9 years. It found that those who consumed protein from non-animal sources had a lower risk of developing CKD.
The study recorded dietary habits focusing on protein intake and participants’ kidney health.
During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 3,745 -3.2% – of participants developed incident CKD. On examination, patients with higher dietary plant protein intakes had a lower risk for CKD.
“Higher plant protein intake was associated with a lower risk of incident CKD after adjusting for confounding variables,” the study team said in a statement.
“An additional analysis using a stricter definition of CKD and various sensitivity analyses yielded similar findings.”
Other studies
A separate study involving 3618 patients with high uric acid levels at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, indicated that a vegan diet is associated with a 31% lower risk of CKD in patients with hyperuricemia.
For this study, researchers retrospectively enrolled clinically stable hyperuricemic patients. The cross-sectional study included 225 vegans, 509 lacto-ovo vegetarians, and 2884 omnivores.
After adjusting for age, sex, and additional variables, they found that vegans had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR) of CKD than omnivores
The study authors concluded: “ A vegan diet may be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of CKD in patients with hyperuricemia.”
The protein myth
A common myth surrounding vegan diets is the lack of protein in comparison to animal sources.
According to the European Food Information Council, proteins are made up of essential amino acids (EAAS), which are the building blocks of the body’s cells. Foods that contain all EAAS required by humans are considered to be of high biological value (HBV).
Meanwhile, low biological value (LBV) foods contain some, but not all EAAS and these are primarily made up of plant-based sources such as tofu, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds, peas, and broccoli. While one type of LBV food cannot provide enough protein, consuming certain LBV foods together can complement each other to provide enough EAAS.
Share this story: Plant-based protein diet slashes risk of ‘silent’ kidney disease, study finds.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God