The survey shows why experts in nephrology can not recommend plant-based diets

Professionals in nephrology may not recommend plant diets regularly for patients with kidney disease, due to concerns about patient acceptance and their ability to follow the diet plan, according to the results of the survey.

The results, presented virtually at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings, also highlighted a lack of patient knowledge regarding the benefits of such diets.

Melanie Betz, MS, RD, MVO, CSG, LDN, specialist in nutrition and education for chronic kidney disease at the University of Chicago Medicine, told Healio Nephrology that she designed the survey to gain a better understanding of how often plant diets are adopted by this patient population, as well as to investigate possible barriers that may limit the recommendations.

‘I found it [plant-based diets] has been discussed quite a bit in the literature and in professional communities, but it seems that patients were unaware of it – and even afraid of it – in online CKD groups that I help, ”she said.

For the study, Betz and colleagues provided 657 health professionals with questionnaires, of which 58% were registered dietitians and 53% of them worked in dialysis, and 844 patients, of whom 35% were non-dialysis-dependent KKD and 35% of those who had a had kidney transplant.

Despite 79% of health professionals indicating that diets on plants can be an effective lifestyle change for the treatment of KKD, only 56% said they recommend the diets for their patients.

‘My research has shown that the most common reason for this is [plant-based diets] ‘is not recommended, is the acceptance of patients with low perception and that it is not realistic for patients,’ Betz said. “I found this surprising because I guessed that concerns about electrolyte abnormalities would be a much greater obstacle to recommendation.”

Among the patients, most reported that the eating preferences of their families, their personal preference for meat and meal planning were the biggest challenges in following a plant-based diet.

Betz argues that it is critical not to view the use of plant-based diets as an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach.

“We need to meet patients where they are and encourage plant diets to the extent that patients can or want to follow them,” she said.

According to Betz, it is not necessary for patients to stop eating meat altogether; just one to two “meatless meals” a week can help reduce protein and dietary acid load, which slows the progression of KKD, she says.

With regard to specific methods to increase adherence to plant diets, professionals as well as patients consider counseling sessions with a registered dietitian as the most beneficial.

“The recommendation of early dietary intervention can help patients make these dietary changes,” Betz said. ‘Dietitians have the time and expertise to help patients learn how to implement plant diets.

‘I also think it might help to introduce nutritional interventions as a way to slow down CKD progress, rather than’ it’s good for your kidneys’. Patients are usually very interested in what they can do to prevent dialysis, and plant-based diets can do that. ”

More information on nutrition in kidney disease can be found at: www.thekidneydietitian.org/.

ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS

Receive an email when new articles are posted

Provide your email address to receive an email when posting new articles .

“data-action =” subscribe “> Sign In

We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to experience this problem, please contact customer [email protected].

Back to Healio

National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings