The conventional wisdom that brown rice is better than white rice just doesn't apply if the patient is in renal failure. Polishing brown rice has the effect of removing much of the potassium and phosphorus from this food. White rice is a good way for patients in renal failure to add needed calories without worrying about harmful minerals.
Phosphorus
Patients in the advanced stages of kidney disease often have to limit the amount of phosphorus they consume because their kidneys no longer regulate serum levels of this mineral. White rice is the perfect low-phosphorus food as there is only 68 mg of phosphorus in 1 cup of cooked, long grain, white rice. The National Kidney Foundation, or NKF, recommends that people who have renal failure limit their dietary phosphorus to 800 to 1,000 mg per day if their phosphorus levels exceeds 5.5 mg/dl. High levels of serum phosphorus cause serious problems as they leach calcium from the bones, resulting in weak bones and calcium deposits.
Potassium
Patients with renal failure are no longer able to regulate potassium levels. Cooked white rice has only 98 mg of potassium per cup, making it a perfect low-potassium food. The NFK defines a low-potassium food as one with less than 100 mg of potassium, or one that provides less than 3 percent of the daily value. The NFK Guidelines suggest that patients on dialysis limit potassium consumption to less than 2,000 to 3,000 mg. Complying with these guidelines prevents irregular heartbeats that can result when potassium levels get too high.
Sodium
While white rice is a safe food for patients in renal failure, as long it is not served with high-sodium soy sauce or other high-sodium condiments such as black bean paste. Hypertension is a major problem for kidney patients, which is why heart disease is the leading cause of death in this population. Use other spices and herbs on your rice instead, and be sure to avoid salt substitutes that are high in potassium.
Emergencies
Patients on dialysis need to be prepared for any emergency -- particularly those with limited access to a dialysis facility. Keeping emergency supplies, including medications, food, water and dialysis supplies, can be a matter of life and death. The National Kidney Foundation includes white rice on the list of emergency foods to keep on hand, along with vanilla wafers, graham crackers, and sealed containers of applesauce, pineapples, pears and other low potassium fruits.
References
- National Kidney Foundation: KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease
- National Kidney Foundation: Emergency Meal Planning
- USDA: Potatoes, White, Flesh and Skin, Raw
- National Kidney Foundation: Chronic Kidney Disease
- National Kidney Foundation: Potassium and Your CKD Diet
- National Kidney Foundation: Phosphorus and Your CKD Diet
