Diet Modification for Chronic Kidney Disease

(ReDACKD Trial)

This trial aims to determine if a diet rich in alkalizing fruits and vegetables can help manage metabolic acidosis, a condition where acid accumulates in the body due to worsening chronic kidney disease. Researchers seek to evaluate whether this diet can serve as a better alternative to the usual treatment, sodium bicarbonate, which often causes side effects. Participants will either receive home-delivered fruits and vegetables or take sodium bicarbonate tablets. Individuals with chronic kidney disease and specific blood test results, who are part of the nephrology clinics in Winnipeg or Halifax, might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative dietary approaches for managing chronic kidney disease.

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are currently on potassium binding therapy, you cannot participate in the trial.

Previous studies have shown that eating fruits and vegetables effectively helps people with chronic kidney disease manage metabolic acidosis, a condition where acid levels in the body are too high. This dietary approach benefits kidney health, and most people can follow it without major issues.

Research has shown that sodium bicarbonate can also slow kidney damage and improve kidney health over time. However, some people might experience side effects like bloating or gas. It is generally safe when monitored by a healthcare provider.

Researchers are excited about these treatments for chronic kidney disease because they introduce innovative approaches to managing the condition. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication alone, one arm of this trial uses alkalizing fruits and vegetables to naturally adjust the body's pH balance, which could reduce kidney stress without pharmaceutical intervention. Additionally, the sodium bicarbonate arm provides a non-invasive, oral option to maintain optimal bicarbonate levels, potentially improving kidney function by addressing acidosis more directly than typical dietary adjustments. These approaches offer promising alternatives to standard medication regimens, potentially enhancing patient outcomes with fewer side effects.

This trial will compare two approaches for managing metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease. Participants in one arm will receive alkalizing fruits and vegetables, which research has shown can slow the disease's progression by neutralizing acid in the body. In another arm, participants will receive sodium bicarbonate, a common treatment shown to slow kidney damage and improve kidney health by raising bicarbonate levels in the blood to balance acids. Both approaches offer promising ways to manage metabolic acidosis, a common issue in kidney disease.¹²³⁶⁷