Frequent consumption of nuts lowers risk of chronic kidney disease and death: Study

China: Researchers have found in a new study that nuts consumption is associated with a significantly lower prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and lower all-cause mortality with or without CKD. The findings of the study have been published in the American Journal of Nephrology.

The researchers suggest that the CKD population should have an adequate intake of nuts 1–6 times per week, while the consumption frequency can be more flexible for the non-CKD. In the non-CKD population, the higher frequent consumption of nuts is a protective factor for a lower death rate rather than in the CKD population.

The global estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease, a gradual loss of kidney function is 13.4% and it has increased the burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. CKD management involves nutritional therapy (NT) such as adequate caloric intake and fewer intakes of proteins, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and organic acids.

Nuts are nutrient-dense foods containing salutary compounds. Several studies found that they are beneficial in some diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, there are few studies to show the effects of nuts on chronic kidney disease (CKD). The rich protein and phosphorus content of nuts is at variance with the recommended restricted diet for patients with CKD. Hence, it is of vital importance to confirm the benefit of nuts and the upper limit of consumption for people with CKD.

Wang K., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, and colleagues conducted a study to examine the association between the consumption frequency of nuts and the prevalence and mortality of CKD among adults.

Researchers analyzed data of 6,072 individuals (aged ≥20 years). The association between nut consumption frequency and the prevalence of CKD was evaluated using a logistic regression model. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between nut consumption frequency and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in the CKD and non-CKD populations.

Key findings of the analysis,

• Consuming nuts 1–6 times per week was associated with a lower prevalence of CKD (OR: 0.67).

• Higher consumption of nuts was significantly associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the non-CKD population.

• For the CKD population, a consistently significant inverse association could be seen between consuming nuts 1–6 per week and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.63).

• No groups showed a significant difference in cardiovascular mortality compared with the reference in the full model.

The authors conclude that an appropriate consumption frequency of nuts, such as "1–6 times per week," is associated with a lower prevalence of CKD in the adult population. The higher frequent consumption of nuts is a protective factor for a lower death rate for the non-CKD population rather than the CKD population. For patients with kidney disease, having an adequate intake of nuts might be a relatively good choice.

The present study adds to the connection between nut consumption and CKD, independent of a dietary pattern, and provides a dietary recommendation for the frequency of nut consumption, the authors wrote.

Reference:

Wang K, Qian D, Hu Y, Cheng Y, Ge S, Yao Y: Nut Consumption and Effects on Chronic Kidney Disease and Mortality in the United States. Am J Nephrol 2022;53:503-512. doi: 10.1159/000524382