Controlling Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Chronic Kidney Disease: The Role of Nutritional Interventions

Abstract

Multiple factors impact kidney health. Underlying comorbidities (diabetes and hypertension), medications, genetic predisposition, autoimmunity, and environmental insults all play an important role. The vulnerability of the kidneys is to some extent because of the large proportion of blood it receives. It is the recipient of multiple deleterious substances with very few defense mechanisms. Over the years, low-grade subclinical inflammation and oxidative stress have been shown to play an important role in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidneys unfortunately have very few anti-oxidative defense mechanisms. Furthermore, there is a complex interplay of multiple factors resulting in persistent inflammation in patients with CKD. Both oxidative stress and inflammation worsen as the glomerular filtration rate declines. Researchers involved in this area have tried many medications, probiotics, and dietary interventions to mitigate both oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with CKD with little success. There has been considerable research in this area, and this review summarizes the interventions available to clinicians taking care of these vulnerable patients.