Safety of a Healthy Plant-based Diet With Higher Potassium Content, Compared to a Healthy Plant-based Diet With Limited Potassium Content in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study (SAFE-K)

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For many years, people with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been advised to limit their intake of potassium, a mineral found in many foods such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. The reason for this has been the risk of hyperkalemia, a condition in which the potassium level in the blood becomes too high and can be dangerous. In recent years, however, this view has been questioned. New research suggests that the link between potassium in food and high potassium levels in the blood may not be as clear as previously thought. People who follow a strict potassium-restricted diet experience a lower quality of life and less satisfaction with their dietary treatment. At the same time, they miss out on the health benefits of eating a varied and nutritious diet. Today, many experts advocate a more individualized approach to potassium intake: instead of generally restricting potassium, the goal should be to maintain normal potassium levels in the blood, while encouraging a healthy diet. However, this message is not always clear in healthcare, and…