Losing Weight to Maintain Kidney Function in Overweight Patients

from Pharmacy Intern Lynda Pardo, Pharm.D.(c)
Palm Beach Atlantic University, Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy


In a study conducted through a meta-analysis and systematic review published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, it was found that patients who were overweight or obese and lost weight using either surgical or non-surgical procedures decreased the decline of the functions of their kidneys. The subjects under investigation were patients who had mild to moderate CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), not dependent upon dialysis, and the filtration rate of their kidneys was higher than normal.
The researchers found that overweight patients with declining kidney function who lost weight utilizing non-surgical procedures where able to bring down their BMI (body-mass index), protein in their urine, blood pressure, and halt the decline of their glomerular filtration rate. Long-standing hypertension (high blood pressure), proteinuria, and a disfunctioning filtration system can potentially lead to end-stage renal failure if not controlled properly and promptly.
For obese patients in whom surgical procedures where used to assist in their weight loss and who suffered from overfiltration by the kidneys, these patients also had a decline in their BMI, blood pressure, protein in the urine, and the glomerular filtration rate.
Although researchers discovered some further benefits of losing weight as it relates to improvement of renal function, they feel that long-term, as opposed to their short term studies are needed to evaluate the results of possible progression to end-stage renal disease.
This study was also able to show that decreasing variables such as blood pressure and microalbuminuria can not only prevent cardiovascular diseases but also renal diseases as well.