People who regularly eat foods that promote inflammation may be more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new review published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition on April 16.
The study was conducted by Amirhossein Ataei Kachouei and his team at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. They analyzed data from 13 different studies that looked at how diet affects kidney health. Specifically, they focused on a tool called the dietary inflammatory index (DII), which scores diets based on how likely they are to cause inflammation in the body.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection, but long-term (chronic) inflammation has been linked to many health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and now, possibly, kidney disease.
A proinflammatory diet typically includes foods high in added sugars, refined carbs, unhealthy fats, and processed meats, and low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
The researchers found that people with higher DII scores—meaning they ate more inflammatory foods—were 36% more likely to have chronic kidney disease than those with lower scores. These individuals also had a 58% greater chance of having a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is a key sign of reduced kidney function.
In simple terms, the study suggests that eating a diet that causes inflammation may raise the risk of kidney damage and disease.
However, the authors note that more research is needed to confirm these findings. The studies they reviewed were all cross-sectional, which means they looked at data from one point in time. Future large-scale, long-term studies are needed to understand more clearly whether inflammatory diets directly cause kidney problems or whether other factors might be involved.
Still, this research supports existing advice that eating a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods—like leafy greens, berries, nuts, whole grains, and healthy fats—can help protect your overall health, including your kidneys.
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The research findings can be found in Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition.
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