Kidney diseases, including both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), are a major public health concern. CKD affects ~10% of the general adult population. Epidemiological data show a continuous growth in its incidence and prevalence, a finding which underscores the ineffectiveness of current strategies on its prevention and treatment. The new epidemics of obesity and diabetes, through their negative effects on the kidney as well as associated morbidity, are focal points of the world increase in CKD. In turn, CKD drastically increases the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Effectively treating CKD would imply slowing disease progression, preventing the development of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and cardiovascular complications, thereby increasing survival. During the last few years it has become evident that healthy lifestyle behaviours, such as regular aerobic exercise and certain dietary patterns, are necessary as "first-line" strategies to help the kidney to maintain a “healthy” state and to prevent CV dysfunction. In particular, targeting fundamental mechanisms of renal and CV aging with nutraceuticals seems to represent a promising approach.
Nutraceuticals are showing effectiveness in small clinical trials and their potential clinical role is expanding. Data from the last 5-10 years provides evidence for their possible use in accelerated kidney aging (“kidney cell senescence”), obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and osteoporosis. High-quality research in this area might sustain implementation of nutraceuticals into general health practice.
This Article Collection aims to collect and disseminate the most relevant research concerning the protective effects of nutraceuticals on kidney health, also in view of the current scenarios induced by an aging population and the obesity and diabetes epidemics.
Article Collection Content: Case studies, Original Reports, Reviews
