Fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of rapid kidney function decline: A prospective cohort study in...

Population-based evidence on the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of rapid kidney function decline is limited and inconsistent. We investigated the impact of fruit and vegetable consumption on the risk of rapid kidney function decline in a Taiwanese adult population.

This prospective cohort study utilized data from Taiwan's MJ cohort, which enrolled adults aged ≥18 years between 2009 and 2022. We analyzed 86,813 participants with at least two serum creatinine measurements taken an average of 4.2 (±3.0) years apart. Daily fruit and vegetable intake was categorized as <3, 3-5, and ≥5 servings. Kidney function decline was assessed by the annual percentage change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), with rapid decline defined as the highest tertile of annual eGFR percentage loss. During follow-up, the mean annual eGFR decline was 0.38 %, 0.36 %, and 0.30 % for participants consuming <3, 3-5, and ≥5 servings daily, respectively (P < .001). Compared with those consuming <3 servings daily, participants consuming 3-5 servings (AOR = 0.95; 95 % CI: 0.92-0.98) and ≥5 servings (AOR = 0.93; 95 % CI: 0.89-0.98) had a lower risk of rapid kidney function decline. A significant linear dose-response relationship was observed between higher fruit and vegetable intake and reduced risk of rapid kidney function decline (P < .001).

Fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a reduced risk of rapid kidney function decline, highlighting the need to promote a fruit- and vegetable-rich diet for CKD prevention.