63 replies to this topic

[LIB]

are there any supplements for kidneys that really protect, or support the kidney in any way?

Edited by LIB, 14 November 2009 - 05:48 AM.

[lynx]

are there any supplements for kidneys that really protect, or support the kidney in any way?

chitosan reduces serum creatinine and urea. covalzin, a japanese charcoal product is probably the most significant breakthrough in kidney health but hard/impossible to get.

check out this page about covalzinKremezin

also:

Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine
2000, Vol. 10, No. 4, Pages 281-288

Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial of Coenzyme Q10 in Chronic Renal Failure: Discovery of a New Role
Ram B. Singh‌1, Hari K. Khanna‌1 and Mohammad A. Niaz‌1
1Centre of Nutrition, Medical Hospital and Research Centre, Moradabad, India



Purpose: Antioxidant vitamin and coenzyme Q10 deficiency as well as oxidative damage have been observed in patients with chronic renal failure. In this study, we examine whether treatment with coenzyme Q10 can improve renal function in chronic renal failure. Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Materials and Methods: Subjects ( n = 21) with available records of chronic renal failure on dialysis or not on dialysis (serum creatinine 5 mg dl -1 or above) were randomly divided into intervention ( n = 11) and control ( n = 10) groups by blindly selecting a card. The intervention group was administered coenzyme Q10 (60 mg thrice daily) and the placebo group inert fibre (cellulose, 1 g thrice daily) for a period of 4 weeks. Results: The coenzyme Q10 group showed a significant reduction in serum creatinine, blood urea and a significant increase in creatinine clearance and urine output compared to the placebo group after the 4-week trial period, while the baseline values of these parameters were comparable between the two groups. The frequency of dialysis and the proportion of subjects on dialysis were comparable at baseline. However, after 4 weeks, the subjects on dialysis were significantly fewer in the coenzyme Q10 group than the placebo group (36.2% vs. 90.0% , p < 0.02). Plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins A, E and C and beta-carotene showed a significant increase whereas thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, diene conjugates and malondialdehyde showed a significant reduction in the coenzyme Q10 group compared to the control group. Conclusions: Treatment with coenzyme Q10 improves renal function in patients with chronic renal failure and decreases the need for dialysis in patients on chronic dialysis. Long-term follow-up in a large number of patients would be necessary to confirm these results.

Edited by lynx, 14 November 2009 - 04:14 PM.

[KimberCT]

N-acetyl-cysteine

[protoject]

interesting!

[lynx]

Staying alkaline is key for kidney health-- fruits, veggies, seaweed. and .............................

Bicarbonate Supplementation Slows Progression of CKD and Improves Nutritional Status
Ione de Brito-Ashurst, Mira Varagunam, Martin J. Raftery and Muhammad M. Yaqoob

Department of Renal Medicine and Transplantation, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence: Prof. Muhammad M. Yaqoob, Department of Renal Medicine and Transplantation, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB UK. Phone: +442073777236; Fax: +442073777003; E-mail: m.m.yaqoob@qmul.ac.uk

Received for publication November 24, 2008. Accepted for publication May 18, 2009.

Bicarbonate supplementation preserves renal function in experimental chronic kidney disease (CKD), but whether the same benefit occurs in humans is unknown. Here, we randomly assigned 134 adult patients with CKD (creatinine clearance [CrCl] 15 to 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2) and serum bicarbonate 16 to 20 mmol/L to either supplementation with oral sodium bicarbonate or standard care for 2 yr. The primary end points were rate of CrCl decline, the proportion of patients with rapid decline of CrCl (>3 ml/min per 1.73 m2/yr), and ESRD (CrCl <10 ml/min). Secondary end points were dietary protein intake, normalized protein nitrogen appearance, serum albumin, and mid-arm muscle circumference. Compared with the control group, decline in CrCl was slower with bicarbonate supplementation (5.93 versus 1.88 ml/min 1.73 m2; P < 0.0001). Patients supplemented with bicarbonate were significantly less likely to experience rapid progression (9 versus 45%; relative risk 0.15; 95% confidence interval 0.06 to 0.40; P < 0.0001). Similarly, fewer patients supplemented with bicarbonate developed ESRD (6.5 versus 33%; relative risk 0.13; 95% confidence interval 0.04 to 0.40; P < 0.001). Nutritional parameters improved significantly with bicarbonate supplementation, which was well tolerated. This study demonstrates that bicarbonate supplementation slows the rate of progression of renal failure to ESRD and improves nutritional status among patients with CKD.

[Rich D]

are there any supplements for kidneys that really protect, or support the kidney in any way?

Pyridoxamine
http://www.lef.org/m...doxamine_01.htm

[VespeneGas]

Invest New Drugs. 2009 Jul 10. [Epub ahead of print]

<h1 class="title">Dietary supplementation of silymarin protects against chemically induced nephrotoxicity, inflammation and renal tumor promotion response.</h1> Kaur G, Athar M, Alam MS.

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India, gurpreet6@yahoo.com.

Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) is a potent nephrotoxicant and a renal carcinogen that induces its effect by causing oxidative stress. The present study was undertaken to explore protective effect of silymarin, a flavonolignan from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), against Fe-NTA mediated renal oxidative stress, inflammation and tumor promotion response along with elucidation of the implicated mechanism(s). Administration of Fe-NTA (10 mg/kg bd wt, i.p.) to Swiss albino mice induced marked oxidative stress in kidney, evident from augmentation in renal metallothionein (MT) expression, depletion of glutathione content and activities of antioxidant and phase II metabolizing enzymes, and enhancement in production of aldehyde products such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. Fe-NTA also significantly activated nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) and upregulated the expression of downstream genes: cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase and enhancing the production of proinflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, feeding of 0.5% and 1% silymarin diet conferred a significant protection against Fe-NTA induced oxidative stress and inflammation. It further augmented MT expression, restored the antioxidant armory, ameliorated NFkappaB activation and decreased the expression of proinflammatory mediators. Silymarin also suppressed Fe-NTA induced hyperproliferation in kidney, ameliorating renal ornithine decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis. From these results, it could be concluded that silymarin markedly protects against chemically induced renal cancer and acts plausibly by virtue of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities.

PMID: 19590824 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher

------------
Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Jul;46(7):2422-8. Epub 2008 Apr 7.

<h1 class="title">Silymarin prevents adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats.</h1> El-Shitany NA, El-Haggar S, El-desoky K.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. Nagla_fouad@yahoo.com

Adriamycin is a potent anticancer agent, its clinical use is limited for its marked cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of the natural antioxidant silymarin on ADR-induced heart and kidney toxicity. Studies were performed on four groups of rats. 1--control group, 2--silymarin group (50 mg/kg), 3--adriamycin group (10 mg/kg), 4--adriamycin+silymarin group. On the third day after ADR injection, plasma was separated for determination of LDH, CPK, cholesterol and total lipids. 30 days after ADR injection, plasma was separated for determination of creatinine and urea levels. Frozen heart specimens (72 h) and frozen kidney specimens (30days) were used for estimation of lipid peroxides and GSH contents. Histopathological examinations of heart and kidney sections were also done. Pretreatment of ADR-treated rats with silymarin resulted in a significant decrease in the plasma CPK, LDH, creatinine and urea. On the other hand silymarin pretreatment did not change ADR-induced hyperlipidemia. Silymarin pretreatment significantly decreased the myocardial MDA contents. In addition, silymarin pretreatment normalized renal tissue contents of MDA and GSH. Histopathological examination of heart and kidney sections revealed that ADR caused only mild myocardial injury in silymarin pretreated rats. Also, silymarin pretreatment inhibited ADR-induced renal tubular damage in rats. These results have suggested that, silymarin ameliorated ADR-induced cardiotoxicity and protected against ADR-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. The mechanisms of silymarin induced protection against ADR-induced toxicities were proved to be due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation and protection against GSH depletion.

PMID: 18487002 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

[LIB]

Cool, thanks for the helps so far.

About CoQ10. Do you think Ubiquinol would be helpful as well? It's the more bio available version of CoQ10 if I remember right...

What about Benfotiamine, heard that was helpful for kidneys too.

Edited by LIB, 17 November 2009 - 02:58 AM.

[Johann]

Coconut oil for the saturated fats.. Is a must for kidneys as well as lungs. Really , it is. And just like the poster stated
earlier, a little baking soda from time to time is good too.

[lynx]

Cool, thanks for the helps so far.

About CoQ10. Do you think Ubiquinol would be helpful as well? It's the more bio available version of CoQ10 if I remember right...

What about Benfotiamine, heard that was helpful for kidneys too.

LEF says Ubiquinol is better , I take Qunol which I get at Costco which is enhanced absorption. I think it is important to get some kind of enhanced absorption formula not just straight CoQ10.

Regarding benfotiamine, yes it is a glycation inhibitor, which for diabetics is key.

I think the bottom line for kidney health is control blood pressure, control blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and keep your body alkaline.

[aikikai]

Please fill in more suggestions I have some kidney problems.

[NDM]

Please fill in more suggestions I have some kidney problems.

dandelion and chanca piedra (i.e. Phyllanthus Niruri)

[waldemar]

chitosan reduces serum creatinine and urea. covalzin, a japanese charcoal product is probably the most significant breakthrough in kidney health but hard/impossible to get.

sounds like an especially good idea for people who take creatine.

[meat250]

dug these up

-New research shows that the low-cost vitamin Thiamine (vitamin B1) reverses kidney damage in diabetics, restoring the ability of the kidneys to function without allowing proteins to spill over into the urine
-alkaline diet
-A new series of animal experiments shows that your kidneys are the first to show significant signs of Q10 distress – a red flag indicating problems are likely anywhere in your body (whatever your weak spots may be). Signs of kidney stress include elevation in blood pressure, poor stress tolerance (adrenal/kidney weakness), elevated BUN/creatine ratio on a blood test, and increased protein in the urine. Obesity is a key stressor for the kidneys. Failure to correct initial weaknesses leads to cardiovascular disease.
-In a new study it was found that carnosine prevented kidney cells from multiplying in an unfavorable way when in response to high blood sugar, even preventing some of the adverse effects high blood sugar causes the kidneys.
-Thyroid hormones control the rate at which your kidneys can do their filtration work; thus, if thyroid function is impaired then kidney function is similarly impaired. Thyroid hormones are involved in the development and growth of the kidneys, especially in the womb

supps that may help:
Milk Thistle
R-ALA
chlorella
NAC
resveratrol
taurine
glycine
carnosine

[nootrope]

Cordyceps is supposed to support the kidneys. Some studies confirm this.

[fatboy]

My doc actually prescribed a low-dose of a blood pressure drug called lisinopril (5 mg/day) even though my blood pressure is fine. He said it was a kidney prophylactic for the metformin he prescribed to address my real problem.

Edited by fatboy, 25 November 2009 - 06:20 AM.

[sentrysnipe]

I love this thread.

You can also try stem cell treatment, CellMedicine in Costa Rica costs 33,500 US$ per treatment (google cellmedicine)

RNLBio I believe offers charity treatments in select patients in Korea, and commercially in Japan, Mexico Germany (search youtube for their channel)

And a Philippine doctor offers it for 25,000 US$ (edit also on youtube)

Edited by sentrysnipe, 14 December 2009 - 12:08 AM.

[DeadMeat]

Interesting amino acid mix.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/15787344

Oral supplement of six selective amino acids arrest progression renal failure in uremic patients.
Yatzidis H.
Laboratory for Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
iyatzidi@med.uoa.gr

Certain amino acids such as glycine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-histidine and L-arginine taken orally by normal adults or patients with renal failure increase glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Twelve nondiabetic patients suffering from glomerulonephritis confirmed by renal biopsy previously, with creatinine clearances ranging from 15 to 24 ml minute/1.73, and on low protein diet 0.6 g/ kg/day, received an amino acid supplement daily in 2 or 3 doses for 1 year. At 4, 8 and 12 months creatinine clearance increased slightly (NS, NS, NS), 24 hour urine volume increased (P < or = 0.001, 001, 0.001), 24 hour albuminuria decreased (P < 0.001, 0.001, 0.001), serum urea increased (NS, NS, NS) serum albumin increased (NS, 0.05, 0.05), total cholesterol decreased slightly (NS, NS, 0.01), HDL increased slightly (0.05, 0.05, 0.05), LDL decreased (NS, 0.001, 0.001) triglycerides decreased (0.001, 0.001, 0.001), Apo B remained unchanged (NS, NS, NS), ROS/H2O2 decreased (0.001, 0,001, 0.001), Hct increased (NS, 0.01, 0.01) Hb increased (0.05, 0.05, 0.05), and serum phosphate decreased (0.01, 0.01, 0.01). After removal of supplements at the end of the year all parameters remained unchanged. We believe that a large controlled study should be undertaken to confirm these most encouraging findings.

And a study about histidine deficiency in chronic kidney disease.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/18541578

[Athanasios]

Interesting amino acid mix.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/15787344

Along similar lines:

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2010 Apr-Jun;23(2):523-33.

Supplementation with essential amino acids in middle age maintains the health of rat kidney.

Corsetti G, Stacchiotti A, D' Antona G, Nisoli E, Dioguardi FS, Rezzani R.

Division of Human Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. corsetti@med.unibs.it

Abstract
Chronic kidney diseases are a social and economic problem, and diet has long been recognized as a fundamental modulator of kidney health in human and experimental models. Age-dependent alterations in mitochondrial function play a crucial role in the development of diseases of aging, and mitochondrial disorders have been observed in experimental models of kidney failure. Recently, the beneficial dietary effect of a specific mixture of essential amino acids (EAA) has been studied in elderly subjects, but no data were collected from the kidney. The aim of this study was to assess whether daily supplementation of the diet with EAA at the beginning of senescence could preserve renal health. We used middle-aged (18-month-old) male Wistar rats fed a standard diet and water ad libitum (M-aged group) or a diet with added EAA (1.5 g/kg per day) dissolved in drinking water for 3 months (M-aged+EAA group). Young (2-month-old) rats fed a standard diet for 3 months were used as controls. Mitochondrial morphology and markers for collagen, cyt-c-oxidase, HSP60, GRP75, eNOS, iNOS, Bax, Bcl2 and VEGF were analyzed in glomeruli and tubules. EAA supplementation limited fibrosis and increased the capillary tuft area in the glomeruli of M-aged rats. VEGF and eNOS were enhanced in glomeruli and the peritubular space with the EAA-supplemented diet. Mitochondrial cyt-c oxidase, Bcl2, and chaperones increased in the distal tubules of the EAA group to levels similar to those observed in the young group. Mitochondrial area and density after EAA intake did not differ from young groups. The results suggest that prolonged EAA intake could represent a strategy for maintaining the healthy status of the kidney in M-aged animals.

PMID: 20646347 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[JKDC]

CoQ10 and glycation inhibitors(P5P,Carnosine,Benfotiamine) are the best and have a good amount of research behind them. CoQ10 delayed the need for a transplant in one study I read a year or two ago.

[brunotto]

Misoprostol

All the things that stimulates angiogenesis (VEGF-A)
http://www.kjim.or.k...20031802_65.pdf

Misoprostol, an anti-ulcer agent and PGE2 receptor agonist, protects against cerebral ischemia.

Abstract
Induction of COX-2 activity in cerebral ischemia results in increased neuronal injury and infarct size. Recent studies investigating neurotoxic mechanisms of COX-2 demonstrate both toxic and paradoxically protective effects of downstream prostaglandin receptor signaling pathways. We tested whether misoprostol, a PGE(2) receptor agonist that is utilized clinically as an anti-ulcer agent and signals through the protective PGE(2) EP2, EP3, and EP4 receptors, would reduce brain injury in the murine middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO-RP) model. Administration of misoprostol, at the time of MCAO or 2h after MCAO, resulted in significant rescue of infarct volume at 24 and 72h. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated dynamic regulation of the EP2 and EP4 receptors during reperfusion in neurons and endothelial cells of cerebral cortex and striatum, with limited expression of EP3 receptor. EP3-/- mice had no significant changes in infarct volume compared to control littermates. Moreover, administration of misoprostol to EP3+/+ and EP3-/- mice showed similar levels of infarct rescue, indicating that misoprostol protection was not mediated through the EP3 receptor. Taken together, these findings suggest a novel function for misoprostol as a protective agent in cerebral ischemia acting via the PGE(2) EP2 and/or EP4 receptors.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....nihms-84016.pdf

Role of prostaglandin E receptor subtypes EP2 and EP4 in autocrine and paracrine functions of vascular endothelial growth factor in the inner ear

The physiological effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are mediated by the prostaglandin E receptor subtypes EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4, and the respective agonists have been purified. PGE1 and PGE2 can increase the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), particularly through EP2 and EP4. The biological effects of VEGF are mediated by the phosphotyrosine kinase receptors fms-related tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) and fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1). Here we examined the effects of EP2 and EP4 agonists on the production of VEGF proteins and VEGF messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the inner ear, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. We also examined the localization of EP2, VEGF, Flt-1, and Flk-1 in the cochlea by immunohistochemistry.

Results
The expression of EP2 occurred in the cochlea, and the local application of an EP2 or EP4 agonist increased VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA levels in the inner ear. Furthermore, the intensity of the VEGF immunoreactivity in the spiral ganglion appeared to be increased by the local EP2 or EP4 agonist treatment. Immunoreactivity for Flt-1, and Flk-1 was found in the cochlear sensory epithelium, spiral ganglion, spiral ligament, and stria vascularis.

Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that EP2 and EP4 agonists stimulate VEGF production in the inner ear, particularly in the spiral ganglions. Moreover, the Flt-1 and Flk-1 expression observed in the present study suggests that VEGF has autocrine and paracrine actions in the cochlea. Thus, EP2 and EP4 might be involved in the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of PGE1 on acute sensorineural hearing loss via VEGF production.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....64/?tool=pubmed

Edited by brunotto, 14 April 2012 - 12:44 PM.

[brunotto]

<sup>A review of the potential benefits of pentoxifylline in diabetic and non-diabetic proteinuria.

Badri S, Dashti-Khavidaki S, Lessan-Pezeshki M, Abdollahi M.

Source

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a considerable health problem may have proteinuria as the main complication and strong risk factor to reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Decreasing proteinuria is the mainstay of therapy in order to delay the progression of CKD. Current therapeutic regimens provide only partial renoprotection, and a substantial number of patients who have proteinuria progress to ESRD. Pentoxifylline (PTF) is known for its potent inhibitory effects against cell proliferation and inflammation which play important roles in CKD progression. Data derived from both human studies and animal models demonstrated that PTF has broad-spectrum renoprotective effects and therefore, provide a scientific basis for the use of PTF as an anti-proteinuric agent. Conclusion of this review is that short-term use of PTF may produce a significant reduction of proteinuria in subjects with diabetic and also non-diabetic kidney diseases but the reports of long-term use of PTF also show that urinary protein excretion exhibits a progressive and sustained reduction in patients treated with PTF. Whether the long-term use of PTF could be a pharmacological alternative for delaying or preventing the development of end stage renal disease, is among the questions that remained to be appropriately answered in large-scale clinical trials.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21501559</sup>

[Luminosity]

Diet and lifestyle is important, as well as avoiding things that stress the kidneys. A more alkaline diet is better. There are Chinese herbs that help but it depends on what is wrong.

[Wolf]

What supplements would you recommend for on and off left side / kidney pain for six years after a kidney stone? I've had lots of blood tests, urine tests, CT scans, x-rays, everything is normal. My doctor sent me to a rheumatologist who put me on different anti-inflammatory meds that never helped any. That was a waste of time. Next I was sent to a back doctor who sent me to physical therapy. That was a waste of time. I went to an internist once that was horrible. I gave up on the doctors after that. I did have a more recent blood test and urine test done and everything is still normal. I do have psoriasis and I am on Humira. I have wondered if that could cause any kidney problems. I also had lithotripsy done for the kidney stone after a month of having it six years ago.

The best thing I've found is drinking lots of water, which I have been doing for quite a few years. It'd be nice to not have the pain at all though.

[brunotto]

Are you sure the pain is kidney related ? Kidney seems to work fine.

[Logan]

Milk thistle

[Wolf]

I'm currently taking Jarrow's Milk Thistle. If it's not kidney, then I wouldn't know what. The pain pretty much feels exactly the same as when I had the kidney stone. In the same place as well. I also never had the pain before that point either.

[hippocampus]

cranberry juice is great prevention against some type of kidney stones and against urinary tract infections. I dunno what exactly would help your condition, I have something similar - pain because of cyst damage (I have PKD) after injury and doctors also didn't find anything after many tests ...

[Luminosity]

Wolf,

In Chinese medicine, they would see a connection between your psoriasis and your kidneys. For instance, your kidneys might be under a strain and not able to filter acidic wastes out of your system and instead be pushing them out through the skin. A good acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist could help you. You can find out more about how to find a good one here:

http://www.longecity...inese-medicine/

Generally, for now you would want to adopt a diet and lifestyle that is good for your kidneys, no sodas, no cold drinks, let cold food and drinks come to room temperature, cut down on acids, try to eat a mild steamed green vegetable every day, like snow peas, sugar snap peas, green beans, not too much spicy foods, not too many fried foods, not too much sugar. It would be best to eliminate coffee, decaf, and all green and black tea for now, even decaf green tea. Drinking a mild hot herb tea might be o.k. Avoid those that are high in acid, tannins or have essential oils. Teechino (or teecino?) a herbal coffee substitute is probably o.k. Drinking plain honeybush tea is probably o.k. Plain Mamaki tea, a Hawaiian herb tea might be o.k., but see how it makes you feel. Job's Tear's might help. Learn what nurtures the kidneys in Chinese medicine. Prescription and over the counter medicines might be making the problem worse. I'm not telling to stop taking them at this time. Just be aware of this.

Edited by Luminosity, 17 April 2012 - 04:15 AM.

[hippocampus]

@Luminosity: can you recommend something reading on Chinese medicine (for beginner and maybe with more scientific explanations regarding biochemistry)?