Fruit & Vegetables Win for Improving Kidney Disease!

A surprising new study shows that simply eating more fruits and vegetables could be one of the most important steps to improve kidney disease.

It has long been recommended that people with chronic kidney disease should follow a diet that is low in sodium, saturated fat, and sugar, but high in fruit, vegetables and whole grains. And research has shown that fruit helps by improving creatinine clearance (J Ren Nutr. 2010 May;20(3):176-84).

Now a new study has impressively added to the evidence.

Oral sodium bicarbonate is standard treatment for acidosis in people with chronic kidney disease. This study of 108 people with stage 3 chronic kidney disease and metabolic acidosis prescribed either sodium bicarbonate, fruit and vegetables or no treatment. Both active treatments were taken in quantities sufficient to reduce dietary acid by half.

The results were remarkable. There were 64 hospitalizations in the group that received no care but only 14 in the fruit and vegetable group. There were 88 emergency room visits in the control group but only 20 in the fruit and vegetable group. And while 16 people in the control group progressed to the point that they needed kidney replacement, only 4 in the fruit and vegetable group did. These differences were all significant. There was no advantage of the sodium bicarbonate over the group that had no treatment.

This study suggests that eating lots of fruit and vegetables is better than common treatment or no treatment for people with stage 3 chronic kidney disease and acidosis.

That’s very good news that’s simple and safe!

Presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week October 22, 2026: abstract TH-OR054.

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