By Fiona Bellefeuille, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator
Photo by Micah Tindell on Unsplash
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that, when consumed, may have a beneficial effect on your health. They are often referred to as “good or friendly bacteria” and are well known for maintaining a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in our gut. There are many types of probiotics, each one having a different effect on our body. Probiotics are naturally available in certain foods, as well as being available as nutritional supplements.
How do probiotics help?
Research has shown probiotics to be helpful in a number of conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and oral health. This Probiotic Chart table outlines which probiotics can help with different conditions.
Can probiotics help in kidney disease?
People with kidney disease often have an unhealthy balance of good and bad bacteria in their gut, leading to the buildup of harmful toxins. These toxins may accumulate in the bloodstream, worsening kidney function and causing digestive concerns.
It is thought that probiotics may help by:
- Restoring balance to the gut mix of good and bad bacteria
- Decreasing toxins that build up
- Reducing inflammation that can damage the kidneys
- Protecting kidney function
- Improving quality of life
While there have been some promising studies showing benefits of probiotics for people with kidney disease, more research is required before we can recommend probiotics as a treatment for kidney disease.
How can I add probiotics to my diet?
Probiotics can be found in certain food products and in supplement form. The following is a list of probiotic-rich food items. Check with your dietitian or healthcare team to see if it is safe for you to add some of these probiotic-rich foods to your diet:
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Tempeh
- Sourdough bread
- Kombucha
More research is needed, but incorporating probiotic-rich foods under professional guidance could be a step toward better kidney health. Probiotics may not be safe for everyone. Check with your healthcare team before starting probiotic supplements
References:
Tian, N.; Li, L.; Ng, J.K.-C.; Li, P.K.-T. The Potential Benefits and Controversies of Probiotics Use in Patients at Different Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease. Nutrients 2022, 14, 4044.
Cooper TE, Khalid R, Chan S, Craig JC, Hawley CM, Howell M, Johnson DW, Jaure A, Teixeira-Pinto A, Wong G. Synbiotics, prebiotics and probiotics for people with chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023, Issue 10
Hsiao-Wen Huang and Ming-Ju Chen. Exploring the Preventive and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Probiotics in Chronic Kidney Disease through the Gut−Kidney Axis. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2024 72 (15), 8347-8364
Chang Liu, Letian Yang, Letian Yang, Wei Wei, Ping Fu. Efficacy of probiotics/synbiotics supplementation in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front. Nutr. , 05 August 2024 Sec. Clinical Nutrition. Volume 11 – 2024