US study: Kidney patients do not eat enough fruits and vegetables

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia Medical School, in the United States, revealed that adults with chronic kidney disease are less likely to eat fruits and vegetables, compared to people without the disease.

Dr. Julia Sciala, nephrologist, said: “Eating more fruits and vegetables is closely linked to health in many different diseases. We are concerned about the general health effects when we see patients with chronic kidney disease consuming low levels of fruits and vegetables.

And we must be careful not to unnecessarily discourage fruit and vegetable intake when we provide nutritional advice to patients with chronic kidney disease, such as advice to reduce potassium intake.” In the current study, researchers found that 52% of participants with chronic kidney disease had low intakes. of fruits and vegetables, compared to 48% of people without the disease.

It is reported that about 37 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic kidney disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This occurs when the kidneys are unable to filter waste products from a person’s blood effectively; Which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Patients with chronic kidney disease are sometimes told to reduce potassium, a common mineral in fruits and vegetables.