Effects of vegetarian versus Mediterranean diet on kidney function: Findings from the CARDIVEG study

Abstract

Background:The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a lacto-ovovegetarian diet (VD), compared to a Mediterranean diet (MD), on kidney function in a group of subjects with medium-to-low cardiovascular risk profile. Methods: We analysed 107 subjects (82 women, 25 men; median age 52) who followed a VD (n = 54) and a MD (n = 53) for 3 months in the CARDIVEG study, a randomized, open, crossover trial that compared the effects of these 2 diets on cardiovascular disease risk. Results: The effect of the two diets on kidney function markers was evaluated by conducting a general linear model for repeated measurements adjusted for possible confounding factors such as age, sex, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, hypertension, LDL cholesterol, glucose and body weight change. A significant reduction in creatinine (−5.3%; P < .001), urea nitrogen levels (−9%; P = .001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (−8.7%; P = .001) and BUN/creatinine ratio (−5.8%; P < .001), and an increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (+3.5%; P = .001) was observed during the VD period. On the contrary, no significant changes were noted in the MD group. Variations obtained in the two dietary interventions were significantly different (P < .0001) for creatinine levels, BUN/creatinine and eGFR, for which opposite trends were observed in the VD and MD groups. Conclusions: In a selected group of subjects with medium-to-low cardiovascular risk profile, a 3 month VD period determined significant improvements in kidney function markers. Further trials are needed to confirm these results.

The effect of vegetarian diet on chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression – systematic review

“…The clinical use of the vegetarian diet in CKD prevention can be compared to low-protein conventional diet (0.6-0.8 g/kg/day of proteins), because of its naturally low protein character (25) and positive impact on eGFR (25,26) along with decreased urinary albumin exertion (28). Moreover, there are some additional bene ts that should be mentioned.…”

“…There are few studies strictly comparing both normal diet and vegetarian to each other in terms of renal parameters. What is interesting is that recent studies show the correlation between eGFR and vegetarian diet in both healthy and CKD patients (25,26). There are still some studies that did not con rm the positive impact of vegetarian diet on the GFR (27,28).…”

“…arm of the study and the Mediterranean 0.76 g/dL (0.74-0.79 g/dL) one (25). The was a signi cant change in serum urea between the groups: for ketoanalogue supplemented vegetarian very low-protein diet (KD) -120 mg/dL and low-protein diet (LPD )-226 mg/dL at the end of the study (26).…”

Health Benefits of Vegetarian and Mediterranean Diets: Narrative Review

“…In 2020-2-21, a randomized cross-over study was conducted as a part of the CARDIVEG Study to evaluate the effects of a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet versus the Mediterranean diet on kidney function in healthy individuals at medium to low cardiovascular risk [Dinu et al, 2021]. Participants (107 subjects; 82 women, 25 men) aged 21-75 years were assigned to a lacto-ovo vegetarian or Mediterranean diet group for three months, and then switched the diets.…”

“…In the Mediterranean diet group, no significant changes were observed in the parameters considered. However, the study covered a period of three months; thus, the effect of dietary intervention with this diet for a longer time was not evaluated [Dinu et al, 2021].…”