CMAJ: The planetary diet reduces the risk of chronic kidney disease.
A diet focused on plant-based foods may reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a large study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), who analyzed data from nearly 180,000 participants in the UK Biobank project.
Researchers tracked the diets of people aged 40 to 69 and their health status over a median follow-up period of 12 years. During this time, chronic kidney disease developed in 2.7 percent of participants. It turned out that those who adhered more closely to a planetary diet — characterized by an abundance of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts, with limited added sugars and fats — had a significantly lower risk of the disease.
The protective effect was particularly pronounced among individuals living in areas with few green spaces, as well as among carriers of certain genetic variants. According to the authors, this suggests that diet may partially compensate for adverse environmental conditions and hereditary factors.
Researchers note that many popular diets — such as the Mediterranean or DASH diets — have already been linked to kidney health benefits. However, the planetary diet is distinguished by stricter limitations on added sugars and fats, which likely further reduces inflammation and oxidative stress.
