Named for the Florida Gators, Gatorade is a good fluid replacement for athletes working hard on the field, claim Gatorade's manufacturers, because it contains optimal amounts of minerals and carbohydrates for peak performance. Regardless of whether there is anything to these claims, Gatorade actually has so few minerals that patients with polycystic kidney disease on restrictive diets can partake.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease, PKD, comes in two forms, both of which are genetic. The cause of autosomal dominant PKD is a dominant gene. People with this variant often live for several decades before experiencing symptoms of declining renal function. A recessive gene causes autosomal recessive PKD. People with this variant often go into kidney failure before reaching adulthood.
Renal Diet
If you have PKD, your body is less able to regulate levels of phosphorus and potassium as the disease progresses. Too much phosphorus causes serious bone problems. Too much potassium causes irregular heartbeats. Your nephrologist will monitor levels of these minerals and let you know if a low-phosphorus or low-potassium diet is necessary.
Phosphorus
Individual recommendations vary, but if you have elevated phosphorus, nephrologists generally recommend limiting your daily dietary level from 800 to 1,000 mg. Given that an 8 oz. serving of Gatorade has only 24 mg of phosphorus, it fits into a low-phosphorus diet. If you have PKD, you need to be careful with portion control. While an 8 oz. serving is acceptable, a 24 oz. serving has almost 10 percent of the daily allotment of phosphorus.
Potassium
While individual recommendations vary, most nephrologists suggest that patients consume less than 2,000 to 3,000 mg of potassium if they have elevated levels. With only 37 mg in an 8 oz. serving, Gatorade fits in tidily into a low-potassium diet. This is more acceptable than 8 oz. of orange juice which contains 443 mg of potassium.
References
- "National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)"; Polycystic Kidney Disease; November 2007
- U.S. National Nutrient Database: Sports drink, Pepsico Quaker Gatorade, Original, Fruit-flavored, Ready-to-drink
- National Kidney Foundation: KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in Children with CKD: 2008 Update
- National Kidney Foundation: Guideline 4 -- Restriction of Dietary Phosphorus in Patients with CKD
