Baking soda 'could slow kidney disease'
By Kate Devlin, Medical Corresopndent
Telegraph.co.uk
July 16, 2009
Baking soda could ease the suffering of patients with failing kidneys, a new study suggests.
Sodium bicarbonate can dramatically slow down the progression of the disease in some patients, researchers found.
Every year around 400 people with kidney failure die languishing on transplant waiting lists because of a shortage of donors.
A total of around three million people in Britain suffer from chronic kidney disease, which may have a number of causes and can leave them needing dialysis or a replacement organ.
Doctors have long wondered about using baking soda for kidney disease patients who commonly suffer from low bicarbonate levels, a condition called metabolic acidosis.
Researchers at the Royal London Hospital studied 134 patients with the condition, giving them a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in a tablet on top of their usual care.
Over one year their kidney function declined significantly more slowly than patients not given the baking soda.
In fact, their rate of decline was little more than would be expected with normal ageing.
Patients taking sodium bicarbonate tablets were also less likely to develop end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, according to the findings published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Magdi Yaqoob, Professor of Renal Medicine at the Royal London Hospital, who led the study, said: "It's amazing.
"A simple remedy like sodium bicarbonate when used appropriately can be very effective.
"This study shows baking soda can be useful for people with kidney failure.
"That is, as long as the dose is regulated and under supervision."
By Kate Devlin, Medical Corresopndent
Telegraph.co.uk
July 16, 2009
Baking soda could ease the suffering of patients with failing kidneys, a new study suggests.
Sodium bicarbonate can dramatically slow down the progression of the disease in some patients, researchers found.
Every year around 400 people with kidney failure die languishing on transplant waiting lists because of a shortage of donors.
A total of around three million people in Britain suffer from chronic kidney disease, which may have a number of causes and can leave them needing dialysis or a replacement organ.
Doctors have long wondered about using baking soda for kidney disease patients who commonly suffer from low bicarbonate levels, a condition called metabolic acidosis.
Researchers at the Royal London Hospital studied 134 patients with the condition, giving them a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in a tablet on top of their usual care.
Over one year their kidney function declined significantly more slowly than patients not given the baking soda.
In fact, their rate of decline was little more than would be expected with normal ageing.
Patients taking sodium bicarbonate tablets were also less likely to develop end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, according to the findings published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Magdi Yaqoob, Professor of Renal Medicine at the Royal London Hospital, who led the study, said: "It's amazing.
"A simple remedy like sodium bicarbonate when used appropriately can be very effective.
"This study shows baking soda can be useful for people with kidney failure.
"That is, as long as the dose is regulated and under supervision."
