Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious health problem that affects millions of people around the world. In many cases, the condition gets worse over time, and people end up needing regular dialysis just to stay alive.
Sadly, even though the disease is so common, there are still no approved treatments that can actually restore kidney function. But now, a team of researchers in Japan may have found an unexpected new way to help.
Led by Professor Takaaki Abe at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, the team discovered that a medicine usually used for constipation might slow down kidney damage. This is the first time that the drug, called lubiprostone, has shown potential in protecting kidney function in people with CKD.
The idea came from a simple observation. Many people with kidney disease also suffer from constipation. Professor Abe and his team decided to look into this connection more closely.
They found that constipation can upset the balance of bacteria in the gut, which in turn can harm the kidneys. That made the team wonder: if constipation makes kidney problems worse, could treating constipation make things better?
To find out, they ran a clinical trial called the LUBI-CKD TRIAL at nine hospitals in Japan. The study involved 150 people with moderate CKD. Some participants received either 8 or 16 micrograms of lubiprostone each day, while others received a placebo.
The researchers watched how their kidney function changed over time by measuring something called eGFR, which is a common way to see how well the kidneys are working.
The results were promising. People who took lubiprostone had a slower decline in kidney function compared to those who did not take the drug. But the researchers didn’t stop there. They also looked at why this drug helped.
They found that lubiprostone increases the production of a natural compound called spermidine.
This compound helps improve the way cells produce energy by supporting the health of mitochondria, which are the energy centers of cells. It also seems to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut. All of this combined helped protect the kidneys from further damage.
Now, the research team is planning a larger study (a Phase 3 clinical trial) with more people to confirm these results.
They also want to find certain signs in the body—called biomarkers—that could show which patients are most likely to benefit from this treatment. In the future, doctors may be able to use this information to choose the best treatment for each individual patient.
This study could change how we think about treating CKD. Instead of just trying to remove harmful substances from the blood, doctors might soon be able to actually slow down or even stop the damage. It also opens up new possibilities for treating other illnesses linked to problems with mitochondria.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
The research was published in the journal Science Advances.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
