Carrying extra pounds raises blood pressure and makes the kidneys work harder. This is true for everyone, but particularly true for kidney patients, who already struggle with preserving kidney function and controlling high blood pressure. Because some kidney patients might already have dietary restrictions, any weight loss regimen has to be carefully evaluated. While the Atkins Diet is great for some people, kidney patients should approach it with caution.
Urine Protein
The Atkins Diet is problematic for many kidney patients because they have high urine protein, a marker for kidney disease. Normally, the filters in the kidneys called glomeruli prevent protein from entering the urine. For reasons that are poorly understood, inflamed glomeruli are unable to prevent this from happening. If a kidney patient spills more than 3 grams of protein into his urine in a 24-hour period, he is said to be nephrotic.
Protein Restriction
Proteins are large, complex molecules, and glomeruli are fine, delicate nests of capillaries. If high urine protein remains unchecked, these glomeruli can be destroyed as these large molecules pass through into the urine. In some instances, nephrologists might recommend that kidney patients limit their dietary protein to prevent long-term kidney damage. By limiting dietary protein, less protein is filtered through the glomeruli.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet is notoriously high in protein. Dieters compensate for the lack of carbohydrates by eating high protein foods. This regimen is inconsistent with the protein restriction recommended by many nephrologists. The increase in dietary protein would increase urine protein and place patients at a greater risk of kidney damage. The National Kidney Foundation expressly recommends that this diet not be recommended for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Exception -- Dialysis Patients
The Atkins Diet might not be off-limits for kidney patients on dialysis, which removes certain amino acids from the blood. This is why this subset of kidney patients is urged to eat more protein. Moreover, because they are on dialysis, these patients have no kidney function left to preserve. However, patients should consult their nephrologists because the Atkins Diet could be inconsistent with their other dietary restrictions.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Proteinuria
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure -- Hemodialysis
- National Kidney Foundation: K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hypertension and Antihypertensive Agents in Chronic Kidney Disease
