Mediterranean diet for patients with polycystic kidney disease

Abstract

The changes that have occurred in people's eating habits and lifestyle from the second half of the 20th century have modified the state of health of the general population. Extensive scientific evidence indicates the need of reconsidering the eating habits, reverting to the typical foods of the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet, together with physical activity, abstention from smoking and other addictions, and with conviviality can have an effect not only on the progression of chronic degenerative diseases but also, certainly, on quality of life. It is well known that a high-protein diet with high sodium content, combined with alcohol abuse, is an important cause of the worsening of renal diseases. By contrast, following a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and olive oil with a moderate consumption of animal proteins and alcohol, plays a protective role on renal function. The Medi¬terranean diet has proved to contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular diseases and oxidative stress. Hence, there are the conditions to assess whether the Mediterranean diet is able to significantly reduce the activation of the oxidative stress and, therefore, the cardio-vascular risk in patients with ADPKD.