Nutritional Managements for Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome patients often have gastrointestinal mucosa edema and ascites and this will affect digestion and adsorption, therefore it is better that they should have light and semi-fluid foods that are easy to digest.

Since nephrotic syndrome patients will lose large amount of proteins in urine and they are usually in a state of protein malnutrition. In former times, it is advocated high-protein (1.2-1.5g/kg/d) diets for nephrotic syndrome to make up protein loss and alleviate the symptoms and complications of hypoalbuminemia. However it has been proved by both animal experiment and observation of human kidneys that high-protein diets can not help alleviate hypoalbuminemia. Though the liver can produce more bile, the protein leakage will increase accordingly. Instead high-protein diet will aggravate high perfusion, high pressure and high filtration in the glomerular capillaries and accelerate non-inflammatory glomerular hardening. Controlling the intake of proteins can help reduce kidneys’ burdens and slow down the process of illness, so at present low-protein (0.7-1.0g/kg/d) is advocated.

And nearly all nephrotic syndrome patients will have hyperlipidemia. This is because loss of protein in urine will stimulate the liver to produce more lipoprotein and cause high level of blood lipid. Therefore patients should avoid or at least limit the intake of animal fats and have more polyunsaturated fatty acid (fish oil) and vegetable oils.

Edema is another typical symptom of nephrotic syndrome and it is caused by proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. In case of edema, the intake of salt should be limited and daily intake should be less than 2g and at the same time there should be proper supplement of trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, etc. Because at the same time of losing protein, some trace elements and hormones that combine with proteins will be lost, therefore patients should have some vegetables, fruits and grains.

Foods those are conducive for nephrotic syndrome:

Skimmed milk, yogurt, wheat, egg, fish, chicken, lean meat, vegetables and fruits, etc.

Foods those are should be avoided for nephrotic syndrome:

Salted wafers, salted pickles, curry power, snacks, etc.