Kidney Research UK press release
New research funded by charity
Kidney Research UK has found that foods containing pectin such as
apples, oranges and jam could help reduce the effects of kidney disease.
Researchers
at the Institute of Child Health, University College London, funded by
Kidney Research UK, have successfully demonstrated that a form of pectin
called modified citrus pectin (MCP) could dramatically reduce kidney
damage over a sustained period, and potentially improve the lives of
thousands.
It’s estimated that 47,000 people in the UK are treated
for kidney failure every year, a figure which is set to rise as the
prevalence of the illness increases at an annual rate of more than 5 per
cent.
Patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face
the prospect of a life-time on dialysis, or waiting indefinitely for a
kidney transplant – there is currently a severe shortage of transplant
organs in the UK, with 90 per cent of patients on the Organ Donor
Register (7,000 people) waiting for a kidney.
Dr Paul Winyard,
project lead for Kidney Research UK, said that the study could pave the
way for a new treatment for some of these thousands:
“Our study
has shown some incredible results and suggests that including more
pectin in your diet could protect yourself from kidney disease,”
explained Dr Winyard.
“We now know that MCP, a derivative of
pectin which is a soluble dietary fibre found in the peel and pulp of
many foods including citrus fruit, reduces the severity of renal disease
by altering extracellular functions and inflammation.
“This could
dramatically benefit kidney patients as the study shows that pectin
could be protective before the onset of kidney damage in an individual -
offering a potential breakthrough into preventing the disease.”
Dr
David Long, Senior Kidney Research UK Fellow and joint author of the
study, went on to say “This work clearly identifies a novel potential
therapy for kidney injury. Our next step is to understand how pectin
works on a molecular level and to determine if pectin could be an
effective treatment in patients that already have established renal
disease and reverse the damage to their kidneys. We’d then look to
investigate how much pectin is needed for this type of treatment to be
effective.”
Prof. Neil Turner, chairman of Kidney Research UK also welcomed the news:
“This
is an extremely promising discovery which could very well lead to more
effective forms of treatment for the thousands of people in the UK who
suffer from chronic kidney disease.
"There is a pressing need for
better treatments to prevent the worsening of kidney function, and
Kidney Research UK is keen to fund more research to find and test
these.”
To find out more about kidney disease and how to support the research conducted by Kidney Research UK, please visit: www.kidneyresearchuk.org.uk.
Contact information:
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