MDRD & Low Protein Diet

The purpose of the kidneys is to filter out and process waste from the blood. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that the kidneys process 200 qt. of blood every day and sift out about 2 qt. of waste products. The proper functionality of the kidneys, which can be measured in a number of ways, is vital to your health.

Definition

MDRD stands for modification of diet in renal disease. This was a group of researchers in the early 1990s that looked, in part, at the effects of diet upon kidney diseases. According to the National Kidney Disease Education Program, the MDRD study group devised an equation for estimating the glomerular filtration rate --- also known as GFR --- from the amount of creatine in the blood. It's one of the most advocated measures of GFR.

Glomerulus

The glomerulus is a tiny blood vessel known as a capillary that intertwines with a urine-collecting tube known as a tubule. It acts as a filtering unit, similar to a sieve, keeping normal proteins and cells in the bloodstream but allowing fluid and waste to pass through. This is done via the act of a chemical exchange.

Function

The National Kidney Foundation states that the glomerular filtration rate is a measure of the level of renal function in your body. Under normal conditions, the kidneys can function properly even at a greatly diminished capacity, but if GFR falls below 30 percent, then you will need to see a kidney disease specialist, called a nephrologist, about potential treatments. If GFR falls below 15 percent, then treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplant become a near certainty.

Creatine

GFR can be estimated from your blood creatine levels, also known as serum creatine. Creatine is a waste product that is derived from muscle activity. It is normally removed from your blood by the kidneys, but if kidney function diminishes, then serum creatine levels will rise. MDRD incorporates serum creatine into its calculations to determine GFR and therefore the ultimate state of renal functions.

Significance

If your GFR is found to be abnormal, then you may have chronic kidney disease. People in the early stages of chronic kidney disease may be able to save the remaining kidney function for many years by following several important guidelines, including a low protein diet.The study conducted by the MDRD group, released in 1994, produced results that suggested the introduction of a low protein diet conferred a small benefit among patients with moderate renal insufficiency. However, there was no difference between a very low protein diet and a low protein diet among patients with more severe renal insufficiency in the ability to slow the progression of the disease.