TOPLINE:

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5, a low-protein vegetarian diet (LPVD) for 6 months led to notable improvements in kidney function, metabolic parameters, and body composition, without worsening nutritional status.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a plant-based low-protein diet in reducing CKD-related complications and preventing malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome in 44 patients (mean age, 54.7 years; 65.9% men) with CKD stages 3-5.
• Participants were divided into two groups: those who received an LPVD (mainly from plant sources with the inclusion of dairy products and eggs; n = 20) and those who received a conventional low-protein animal-based diet (mixed animal and plant sources; n = 24).
• Both groups were prescribed 0.6-0.8 g of protein and 25-35 kcal of energy per kilogram of ideal body weight per day.
• Adherence to the diet was assessed monthly in all patients via a food frequency questionnaire.
• Biochemical parameters, anthropometric measurements, body composition, malnutrition-inflammation score, hand grip strength, and other measurements were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of dietary intervention.

TAKEAWAY:

• During follow-up, the malnutrition-inflammation score remained stable in both groups, and no participants developed malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome.
• At 6 months, both diet groups showed significant reductions in levels of serum urea, uric acid, cholinesterase, and A1c (P < .05 for all).
• A significant increase in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = .003) and vitamin D levels (P = .011) and significant reductions in levels of serum creatinine (P = .004), total cholesterol (P = .039), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .011), fibrinogen (P = .041), blood glucose (P = .048), and serum potassium (P = .015) were observed only in the LPVD group.
• Both groups experienced significant reductions in body weight, but only the LPVD group had significant reductions in fat mass (P = .028) and waist circumference (P = .031).

IN PRACTICE:

"A lacto-ovo-vegetarian low-protein diet was feasible and safe in non-dialysis CKD adults. After six months, LPVD improved renal and metabolic parameters and reduced inflammation markers without worsening nutritional status," the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Maria Amicone, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy. It was published online on January 12, 2026, in BMC Nephrology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study's small sample size may have restricted the generalisability of the findings.

DISCLOSURES:

This study did not receive any external funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.