How Low Is Low
A healthy kidney filters wastes from the blood at a rate of 90 milliliters per minute or more. This is known as the glomerular filtration rate, or GFR. With time, many men’s kidneys start to slip, but function must decline quite a lot before you start to really feel the impact. You feel fine up to the point that kidney function is almost gone, which means you can lead a normal life with reduced kidney function.
On the other hand, lack of early warning from symptoms can deny you the chance to slow the slide. Most people don’t start feeling really ill until kidney function is under 10%.
Cardiovascular And Ckd Progression Risk Factors
Improvers had diabetes mellitus less often than nonimprovers . The proportion of insulin-requiring patients and of glycated hemoglobin values did not differ between the two groups. Smoking, history of cardiovascular disease, and lipids did not differ significantly across groups, but a smaller proportion of improvers than of nonimprovers received statin treatment.
What Can Affect Gfr Levels
If you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, its also important to understand the root cause of the condition in order to protect your remaining kidney function and keep your GFR levels in a healthy range, Managing other conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can help you stay healthy and slow the progression of CKD. In some cases, your care team may recommend modifying your daily routine to incorporate an exercise program and a kidney-friendly diet.
Also Check: What Is Flomax Used For Kidney Stones
Gfr Estimates: How Can I Improve Them
I was just diagnosed with stage 3B kidney disease about two weeks ago. My GFR number is 28. Everything Ive read has my numbers in the stage 4 category. Should I get a second opinion and should I be looking for a nutritionist to help with my diet?
My gfr has been down in the 30s and 40s, but now has jumped back up into the 60s. This is not a good sign. Rather, it is evidence of progressing amyloidosis, and worsening of disease. I dont know if a nutritionist will help, but they might. Have you had your SERUM FreeLightChain tested, and the 24-hr urinary protein measured? If your Serum FreeLight Chain is above about 1.4 mg/dL, you have your culprit. Same with a urinary protein above 0.5 Gram per 24-hr. Read the Red Light Warnings on Amyloidosis on ALNYLAM.com, and view the videos on Amyloidosis on Mayoclinic.org, and Amyloidosis.org. There is only a small chance this is your problem, but because it is always fatal if not treated properly, it is worth checking it out.
I met with a nephrologist and he took Blood samples. My creatinine level is at 2.05. Up from 1.86 last March. He took a urine sample at that time but I do not have results. The nephrologist never gave me a stage before. When I heard stage 3B I froze and heard nothing he said after that.
Hello ,
I can only imagine how worried you must be! We are so glad youve joined Mayo Clinic Connect Welcome!
Lynn
The Impact Of Exercise Therapy On Indexes Of Renal Function
eGFR
12 RCTs involving 529 participants reported eGFR as primary or secondary outcome . eGFR was calculated using the CKD-EPI creatinine equation or the MDRD formula . Duration of exercise intervention varied between 6weeks and 12months . There was no significant difference in heterogeneity among the 12 RCTs . Our results showed that exercise intervention could bring an average increase of 2.62ml/min/1.73m2 in eGFR in non-dialysis CKD patients, and the difference was statistically significant . When these participants were further stratified based on the duration of exercise intervention, we found that compared to non-exercise subjects, eGFR was significantly increased with short-term exercise , but not with 36months of exercise or 612months of exercise .
Fig. 3
Effects of exercise therapy on indexes of renal function. a. Effect on eGFR based on duration of exercise. b. Effect on SCr based on duration of exercise
Scr
Only 5 RCTs reported sufficient data to evaluate the effect of exercise therapy on Scr, involving 271 participants . Heterogeneity assessment indicated high study heterogeneity . Using the random effect model, we found that there was no significant difference in Scr between the intervention and the control groups . Subgroup analysis based on exercise duration showed no significant improvement of Scr in participants who received exercise intervention of less than 6months or exercise intervention of 612months .
Recommended Reading: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Your Kidneys
How Do Healthcare Providers Determine Egfr
Tests to precisely measure GFR are highly complex. For this reason, they typically only take place for research or transplant purposes. Instead, healthcare providers use a formula to come up with an estimated GFR . The formula combines results from a serum creatinine blood test with information like your age and gender.
A serum creatinine blood test measures levels of creatinine, a waste product in your blood. Your body makes and uses creatine, a chemical, to provide energy to muscles. When muscles use this energy, muscle tissue breaks down, releasing creatinine into the blood. Healthy kidneys filter this toxin out of the blood and your body gets rid of it when you urinate. But when you have kidney disease, creatinine stays in the blood and gradually builds up.
To determine eGFR, your provider uses a National Kidney Foundation calculating system. This system factors in your:
- Creatinine level.
- Race and/or ethnicity.
The Water Hydration Technique
You know how most of us generally go for long periods without water, become thirsty and scull the next available glass in about 30 seconds? Have you ever thought what this does to your body? No? I dont blame you.
The actual fact of the matter is that every time you a drink a glass of water in a hurry, you are placing pressure on kidney function. How? Well, seeing as one of the functions of the kidneys is to keep the fluid levels in the blood stream balanced, by drinking a full glass of water at once you are essentially dumping a large amount of water into the blood stream, which the kidneys now need to balance out . By drinking slowly, a mouthful at a time, you reduce the pressure on the kidneys and increase hydration. Sound too simple to do any good? Good. Now try it.
Recommended Reading: Is Honey Good For Your Kidney
What Are The Possible Causes Of Kidney Disease
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two most common causes of kidney disease. Apart from that, the low blood supply to kidneys, dehydration, and severe infection, blockage in the urinary tract, or urine are some major causes of kidney diseases. These causes are indirectly responsible for the reduced glomeruli filtration rate.
Research Design And Methods
This was a prospective experimental study that involved participants with different stages of diabetic CKD and healthy volunteers. The patients with CKD were recruited into four subgroups: CKD stages 1 and 2, 3a, 3b, and 4. We recruited 16 participants in each of the five groups . The study was reviewed and approved by the Liverpool Research Ethics Committee, and all study participants gave written informed consent.
Also Check: Reducose Weight Loss
Dont Take Supplements Containing Creatine
Creatine provides the muscles with energy. It is stored in the brain, kidneys, and liver. Athletes and weightlifters use creatinine as a popular supplement to build muscle and improve performance. If you wish to lower your creatinine level, you may want to minimize your creatine intake.
Additionally, some medications such as antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, chemotherapy drugs, diuretics, and lithium can also impair your kidney health. Consult with your doctor before taking any medications and supplements to protect your kidneys.
How To Lower Creatinine Levels Without Dialysis
The symptoms of high creatinine can vary depending on the cause. When you have CKD or declining kidney function, you must do health measures to prevent further kidney damage and slow down CKD progression.
In cases of kidney failure, dialysis may become necessary on top of the medications to help your kidneys filter toxins and waste buildup.
Nevertheless, if you are still in the early stages of CKD, these tips below can help lower your creatinine levels.
Read Also: Is Watermelon Good For Your Kidneys
The Impact Of Exercise Therapy On Indexes Of Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure
9 RCTs examined systolic blood pressure and 14 groups of data were analyzed. A mild statistical heterogeneity was noted among the included studies . Meta-analysis using the random effect model showed that exercise therapy could markedly reduce SBP by 5.61mmHg in non-dialysis CKD patients. Subgroup analysis showed that SBP was significantly decreased regardless of the duration of exercise intervention. Compared to non-exercise subjects, SBP was decreased by 7.21mmHg in participants who received exercise therapy of less than 6months, and by 4.55mmHg in those who received exercise therapy of 612months .
Fig. 4
Effects of exercise therapy on indexes of blood pressure. a. Effect on systolic blood pressure based on duration of exercise. b. Effect on diastolic blood pressure based on duration of exercise
Diastolic blood pressure
8 RCTs including 12 groups of data were analyzed . Heterogeneity was not obvious , so the fixed-effect approach was applied. Exercise therapy decreased diastolic blood pressure of non-dialysis CKD patients by 2.87mmHg . Additionally, this DBP improvement was independent of the duration of exercise intervention. DBP was decreased by 3.23mmHg in subjects receiving less than 6months of exercise therapy and by 2.82mmHg in subjects receiving 612months of exercise therapy .
Glomerular Filtration Rate: Gfr And Egfr
The main function of the kidneys is to clear water-soluble waste products from the blood. The efficiency of clearance is measured using the GFR
- The GFR is a measure of how much blood is cleaned by the kidneys in one minute. By using a blood test to measure creatinine levels we can calculate the estimated GFR, known as eGFR. We do this using a formula that takes body size into account. The average adult body size is 1.73 m2. A normal GFR is around 100 ml/min/1.73m2
- Because the average normal eGFR is 100, the eGFR can be seen as a percentage of normal kidney function. However, values as low as 60 are considered normal if there is no other evidence of kidney disease
- The eGFR is used to calculate the G stage of CKD
- The eGFR calculation can be inaccurate in people who have much more, or much less muscle than average people of their age, sex, and ethnic origin. For instance, it can be falsely low in body builders, and falsely high in people with anorexia nervosa.
Don’t Miss: Grapes For Kidney Stones
How Can I Improve My Gfr Kidney Function
your
GFR improvement is possible in CKD patients at any CKD stage through stage 45. It is noteworthy that this GFR improvement is associated with a decrease in the number of metabolic complications over time.
Likewise, will drinking water increase my GFR? Water ingestion can acutely affect GFR, although not necessarily in the direction one might expect. Using 12 young, healthy individuals as their own controls, Anastasio et al. found increased water intake actually decreases GFR.
In this regard, can a low GFR be reversed?
If the decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate is due to acute kidney injury with a sudden decrease in kidney function, this can commonly be reversed. If the kidney disease is due to chronic kidney disease , the recovery of eGFR is usually not possible.
What can affect GFR results?
Your doctor may recommend a GFR test if you’re taking medications that can affect your kidney function or if you have any of the following conditions:
- diabetes.
Gfr And Kidney Disease Stages
The National Kidney Foundation lists the following GFR scores and kidney disease stages, and what to expect in each:
| GFR | |
| stage 5 | kidney failure |
As you advance through the stages of kidney disease, you will notice more and more symptoms, and your treatments may need to become more intense.
Hemodialysis is a treatment where an artificial kidney filters and circulates your blood when your kidneys can no longer do their job. Its a common method for managing end-stage kidney disease and kidney failure. However, with early diagnosis and careful management, you may be able to at least slow down the progression of your kidney disease.
You May Like: Kidney Failure Symptoms In Men
Do My Kidneys Do Anything In Addition To Filtering The Blood
Yes, kidneys also are involved in other functions in the body. A couple of the most prominent are:
- Stimulate bone marrow to make red blood cells
- Regulate calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D metabolism
That’s why nephrologists routinely monitor hemoglobin levels to assess patients for anemia and perform a blood test called PTH to assess the calcium/phosphorus/vitamin D status in a patient. If either condition occurs due to abnormal kidney function, specific therapy is prescribed to improve those parameters.
Clinical Importance Of The Gfr
Trends in the GFR provide us with an overview of how the kidneys are functioning. A decrease or decline in the GFR implies progression of underlying kidney disease or the occurrence of a superimposed insult to the kidneys. This is most commonly due to problems such as dehydration and volume loss. An improvement in the GFR may indicate that the kidneys are recovering some of their function. Whereas we might deduce that a stable GFR implies stable disease, this is not always the case. There is not a directly proportional relationship between the loss of kidney function and loss of kidney mass. The kidney can compensate for loss in renal function by increasing its reabsorption in the remaining nephrons, thus temporarily maintaining a particular GFR value. With a reduction in the GFR, the elimination of waste products such as urea and creatinine is impaired. Failure to adjust doses of drugs that are excreted by the kidneys such as aminoglycoside antibiotics and heparins may lead to toxic levels of these drugs accumulating.
Read Also: Constipation And Kidney Stones
What Do Egfr Numbers Mean
Healthcare providers measure eGFR in milliliters of cleansed blood per minute per body surface .
Values for eGFR vary depending on age, sex and other factors. The rate naturally declines as you age and lose muscle mass. The average eGFR for someone in their 20s is about 116 mL/min/1.73m2. It drops to 85 mL/min/1.73m2 for people in their 60s.
An eGFR higher than 60 means you have at least 60% kidney function. Generally, the higher the number, the better your kidney function.
What Can You Do To Improve Your Gfr And Prevent Further Kidney Damage
In most cases, kidney disease is a chronic and gradually progressing disease. While its possible to improve your GFR, youre more likely to do so with acute kidney injuries rather than with chronic kidney disease. For most people with chronic disease, positive lifestyle changes may help slow the loss of kidney function.
Some studies have shown that GFR may increase over time in people at all stages of kidney disease by:
- Vitamin D deficiency is very common, and many people arent aware that theyre deficient. If you think you have a deficiency, talk with your doctor and get your blood levels tested. To increase your vitamin D levels, you can spend more time in the sun or add more vitamin D-rich foods to your diet.
- Resolving other metabolic conditions.Metabolic disorders are complex and can present in many forms. Work with your doctor to find a treatment plan that addresses the root cause.
Here are other things you can do to help reduce further damage to your kidneys.
Read Also: Is Pineapple Good For Kidney Stones
What Does Egfr Tell Healthcare Providers
eGFR helps healthcare providers spot problems with your kidneys, including kidney disease.
Your kidneys are part of the urinary system. Kidney disease occurs when one or both kidneys have damage. When you have kidney disease, the glomeruli filter less blood. As a result, dangerous toxins can build up in your blood.
Kidney disease symptoms, such as frequent urination and muscle spasms, may not occur until you lose up to 40% of kidney function. eGFR helps providers detect the disease early so that you can start treatments to slow or stop kidney damage.
Albuminuria: The Urine Albumin: Creatinine Ratio
A simple urine test called the urine Albumin:Creatinine ratio is also performed to look for signs that protein is leaking into the urine . This is an important sign of kidney damage. The ACR is used to calculate the A stage of CKD .
There are three recognised stages of albuminuria:
- A1 normal to mildly increased urine protein levels
- A2 moderately increased urine protein levels
- A3 severely increased urine protein levels
Combining your ACR ratio with your eGFR can help doctors try to predict whether your kidney disease is likely to progress and whether you are more likely to develop complications such as heart and circulatory problems. Other factors are also taken into account, e.g. age. In general, the higher the A stage, the more likely it is that you will benefit from blood pressure-lowering treatment.
Don’t Miss: Can Seltzer Water Cause Kidney Stones
What Is Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product produced mainly by muscle activities from the breakdown of the compound called creatine. Creatine is a metabolite from creatine phosphate from muscle and protein metabolism, which the body uses to supply energy to the muscles. As the muscles use energy, the tissue that comprises the muscles break down naturally, releasing the creatinine into the bloodstream. Creatinine can build up in the blood from a high protein intake, intense workout, medication or supplement dosage, or if a person has a kidney problem.
Healthy kidneys filter creatinine from the blood and excrete it from the body through urine. However, impaired kidneys couldn’t filter creatinine and other waste materials properly from the body, thereby causing waste buildup.
Doctors typically use a creatinine test to determine kidney function. However, checking the presence of creatinine alone in your blood isn’t the best way to evaluate your kidney health since your creatinine level is dependent on your age, race, gender, and body size.
The best way to determine your kidney function is through Glomerular Filtration Rate . GFR is a calculation of your creatinine level, age, gender, race, and weight. Your GFR number will help your doctor determine if you have kidney disease. If your GFR number is below 60 for three months you may have kidney disease. Moreover, you may have kidney disease if your GFR number is above 60 with signs of kidney damage .