Stage 4 CKD Diet

stage 4 CKD diet

When you have stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD), your diet goals should help minimize symptoms and help you maintain adequate nutrient intake to prevent weight loss and malnutrition.

Potassium and stage 4 CKD
Potassium restriction may or may not be required in stage 4 CKD. If kidneys are not able to remove enough potassium to maintain normal blood levels in stage 4 CKD, you will need to limit high-potassium foods. If lab tests show potassium is too high, your doctor may prescribe a potassium restriction of 2,000-3,000 mg a day. A high potassium level may also be related to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) prescribed to reduce protein in the urine, potassium-sparing diuretics or other blood pressure management medications and your doctor may make medication changes. To reduce high potassium, limit intake of high-potassium foods, and avoid foods with added potassium chloride. Many salt substitutes and low sodium foods contain potassium chloride. Your meal plan may limit your daily servings of fruit, vegetables and milk.

Protein and stage 4 CKD
On average, Americans consume 90-100 grams of protein a day, but our bodies only need about 46 (for women) to 56 grams (for men) of protein.
The Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiatives (K/DOQI) Nutrition Guidelines suggest that a protein intake of 0.6 grams per kg of body weight may be beneficial when glomerular filtration rate (GFR) drops below 25, or approximately 25 percent remaining kidney function. Ask yournephrologist or renal dietitian to calculate how much protein you should consume per day. Half of your protein should come from high-quality sources that provide all the essential amino acids (eggs, milk, poultry, seafood, red meats or soy).

This lower-protein diet is thought to have a protective effect on the kidneys. However, it also brings the risk of protein malnutrition, with muscle wasting and low albumin levels. Work with your dietitian to help monitor your nutritional status as well as the effectiveness of the diet.

If you have any follow-up questions about stage 4 CKD diet, you are welcomed to directly consult online doctor freely or email it to kidneyfailure@hotmail.com, we are glad to help.