Dietary interventions in acute kidney injury: From molecular mechanism to clinical trials

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Aging significantly reduces kidney resilience, increasing the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI).
• The complex and heterogeneous pathophysiology of AKI hinders pharmacological treatment development.
• Dietary interventions have emerged as a promising strategy for preserving kidney function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of dietary interventions in mitigating age-related decline in renal resilience.
• To investigate conserved molecular mechanisms underlying diet-induced kidney protection in preclinical models.
• To identify potential therapeutic targets for enhancing renal resilience against AKI.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on dietary interventions and kidney function in aging.
• Analysis of rodent models demonstrating the protective effects of caloric restriction, fasting, ketogenic diets, and amino acid restriction on AKI.
• Comparative analysis of molecular mechanisms of renal resilience across species.

Main Results:

• Dietary interventions like caloric restriction and fasting show significant potential in preserving kidney function in various AKI models.
• These protective effects are mediated by conserved molecular pathways, suggesting applicability across species.
• Diet-induced preconditioning benefits extend beyond the kidney to other organs like the brain and heart.

Conclusions:

• Dietary interventions represent a promising avenue for enhancing renal resilience in aging populations.
• Understanding the molecular basis of diet-induced protection can lead to novel therapeutic strategies for AKI.
• The systemic benefits of these dietary approaches warrant further investigation for broader clinical applications.