If you or someone close to you is living with IgA nephropathy, you may wonder whether diet can help manage symptoms or slow the disease’s progression. While certain foods don’t cause IgA nephropathy, your lifestyle choices can influence kidney health and related factors such as inflammation, blood pressure, or protein levels in the urine.

Certain foods may also support kidney health. Focusing on plant-based foods may help protect kidney function and reduce the risk of complications. Everyone is different and needs a personalized treatment plan, so it’s important to work with a nephrologist and registered dietitian before making any changes in your diet.

What Is IgA Nephropathy?

IgA nephropathy (IgAN), also called Berger disease, is a condition that affects the kidneys. It develops when immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that normally helps fight infections and protect the body, builds up in the kidneys. This leads to inflammation and damage to the glomeruli, or little blood vessels in your kidneys that help filter waste products.

IgA nephropathy can get worse over time, and the way it impacts each person can be different. Some people may notice blood in their urine but have no other symptoms, while others may experience protein in the blood and a decline in kidney function, leading to the kidneys failing.

How Is IgA Nephropathy Treated?

There is currently no cure for IgA nephropathy. However, working with a specialized nephrology care team, making healthy lifestyle changes, and following your treatment plan may help slow disease progression. For some people, medications may be used to reduce inflammation, lower protein levels in the urine, and protect kidney function. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which diet can influence, can also play an important role in slowing kidney damage and supporting long-term kidney health.

What Is a Plant-Based Diet?

A plant-based diet focuses mainly on whole plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils), unsalted nuts, seeds, and healthy oils. It limits or reduces animal protein like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy, and minimizes highly processed foods. There are different varieties of plant-based diets that have been shown to support kidney health and prevent heart disease.

Common plant-based diets include:

• Vegan — Avoiding all animal-based food
• Vegetarian — Sometimes includes dairy and eggs but avoids meat and fish
• Pescatarian — Includes dairy, eggs, and fish
• Mediterranean diet — Medium amounts of fish, yogurt, and cheese, and a bit of red meat
• DASH diet — Includes fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy but focuses on plant-based foods and limits sodium and sugar
• MIND diet — Combines principles from the Mediterranean and DASH diets, focusing on berries, olive oil, whole grains, beans, and fish

How Can a Plant-Based Diet Benefit Kidney Disease?

Plant-based diets are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low in saturated fats. They have been linked to a lower risk of chronic disease, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Research also suggests they may help slow the progression of kidney disease.

Reduced Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common risk factor for IgA nephropathy and kidney issues. Kidney damage can raise blood pressure, and high blood pressure can further damage the kidneys. This can create a vicious cycle. Following a whole foods, plant-based diet can help overall health by both lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. One study, which was done on people on dialysis, found that those who followed a vegetarian or plant-based diet had lower blood pressure than those who didn’t.

Decreased Diabetes Risk

Minimally processed plant-based foods have been suggested to help your body use insulin better. Insulin is a hormone that manages how much sugar is in your blood. Having too much over time can lead to diabetes, which can make kidney disease worse. Plant-based diets can help prevent or manage diabetes better by regulating sugar levels.

Added Antioxidants

Plant-based foods tend to contain more antioxidants, which are natural substances that help protect cells from damage, including kidney cells. These helpful compounds are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. Vitamins C and E are a couple of examples that support immune health, which is important to prevent infections and maintain kidney health.

Lower Acid Load

With kidney disease, excess acid can build up in the blood because it’s not being properly filtered. This can put added strain on the kidneys. Eating less animal-based foods may help lower this acid load.

Phosphorus Management

Wholesome plant foods, like vegetables and whole grains, contain phytates. These can help reduce how much phosphorus your body absorbs. This is important for kidney health because high phosphorus levels can build up in kidney disease and lead to problems such as damaged blood vessels.

Tips for a Plant-Based Diet With IgA Nephropathy

Adding more plant-based foods in your eating plan can be done with some flexibility and simple meal plan preparation. It doesn’t have to be an overall diet overhaul. What’s important is starting slow, sneaking them into your favorite dishes, and setting small yet achievable goals with your nephrology healthcare team.

Swap Plant-Based Foods

Many animal meats can easily be swapped for plant versions. Fill half of your plate with low-potassium vegetables, like green beans, asparagus, or broccoli. You can also start by swapping one or two meals per week, like making one vegetarian meal instead of your animal meat go-to. Vegetables also make for great snacks alongside other plant-based foods like hummus or guacamole.

Go Minimally Processed

Plant-based foods are good for kidney health, but only when they’re in their natural form. Try not to depend too much on highly processed foods, like meat alternatives or salty convenience snacks, even if they are vegan. Plant-based meat alternatives are often high in sodium and may contain added phosphorus or potassium, which can be harder on kidney health. Aim for lower salt and sugar options like low-sodium rice crackers or tortilla chips, and unsweetened peanut butter and nut butters. Keep plenty of your favorite fruits and vegetables on hand for healthy snacks.

Choose Kidney-Friendly Plants

If your kidney condition is at a later stage, such as kidney failure, or if you’re on dialysis, you might have been told to reduce your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. That’s because it’s important to help keep your blood potassium and phosphorus within healthy ranges. On a lower-potassium and phosphorus diet, you can still enjoy a variety of produce, such as apples, berries, pears, and vegetables like cabbage, cucumbers, and yellow squash.

Work With a Nephrology Expert

Living with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure requires careful planning to ensure you’re getting the right nutrients in safe amounts. While plant-based or vegetarian diets may offer health benefits, they can also pose risks if you’re on dialysis or in a later stage of kidney disease. It’s important to work with your nephrology doctor and dietitian before making any changes.

Join the Conversation

On myIgANteam, people share their experiences with IgA nephropathy, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Do you follow a plant-based diet for your kidney health? Let others know in the comments below.