Baking Soda Slows Kidney Disease

LONDON—A daily dose of commonly used sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) improves nutrition and slows the decline of kidney function in some patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

"This cheap and simple strategy also improves patients' nutritional status, and has the potential of translating into significant economic, quality of life, and clinical outcome benefits," said Magdi Yaqoob, MD, of the Royal London Hospital.

The study included 134 patients with advanced CKD and low bicarbonate levels (metabolic acidosis). One group received a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in tablet form, in addition to their usual care. For this group, the rate of decline in kidney function was greatly reduced—about two-thirds slower than in patients.

Rapid progression of kidney disease occurred in just 9 percent of patients taking sodium bicarbonate, compared to 45 percent of the other group. Patients taking sodium bicarbonate also were less likely to develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients taking sodium bicarbonate also had improvement in several measures of nutrition.