Yes, your Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) can sometimes be improved or, more commonly, its decline slowed by managing underlying causes like diabetes and high blood pressure, adopting a kidney-friendly diet (low salt/protein), staying hydrated, exercising, quitting smoking, and using prescribed medications, though significant recovery in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is difficult as damage is often permanent, while acute kidney injury can be reversible.
GFR improvement is possible in CKD patients at any CKD stage through stage 4–5. It is noteworthy that this GFR improvement is associated with a decrease in the number of metabolic complications over time.
In the general population, approximately 38% of adults aged 70 or older have an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, with most having moderate reductions in eGFR in the 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m2 range (1).
There's no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse. Your treatment will depend on the stage of your CKD. The main treatments are: lifestyle changes – to help you stay as healthy as possible.
If your EGFR is low, then the suspicion is you may have a kidney problem. However, this is not always the case. There are other causes of a low EGFR, such as increased muscle bulk and increased muscle turnover. If the EGFR is very low, then this suggests that kidney function is very low, which is very serious.
Chronic Kidney Failure: Unlike its acute counterpart, chronic kidney failure develops slowly over time, and is often linked to prolonged issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease cannot be reversed.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet
Other ways to boost your kidney health are to:
To strengthen your kidneys, focus on a healthy lifestyle: stay hydrated with water, eat a balanced diet low in salt and processed foods, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, manage blood pressure and sugar, limit over-the-counter pain relievers (like NSAIDs), and maintain a healthy weight to support overall kidney function.
GFR generally declines at a rate of 1 mL/min/year. However, patients who lose renal function faster than the average age-related decline in GFR tend to progress to ESRD. Krolewski et al. defined progressive renal decline as an eGFR loss of ⩾3.3% per year.
If eGFR is below normal it may be due to a true reduction of kidney function. However, it is also influenced by other factors such as increased muscle mass, reduced fluid intake and medications such as NSAIDs and ACE inhibitors.
Here's a breakdown of the six most common supplements people with CKD may need to support kidney health.
Your healthcare provider will order blood and urine tests to check kidney function. Specifically, the blood tests will check: Your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This describes how efficiently your kidneys are filtering blood — how many milliliters per minute your kidneys are filtering.
Causes of low gfr in adults
A low eGFR in an older person does not always mean CKD, even if the eGFR is less than 60. When you get an eGFR test, a simple urine test called the uACR will also be done to check for blood or albumin (a type of protein) in the urine.
Antibiotics, Antifungals, and Antivirals
Many medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria (antibiotics), fungus (anti-fungals), or a virus (antivirals) leave your body through the kidneys. So, they can build up in your body and cause extra side effects if the dose is too high for your eGFR.
To keep your kidneys working at their very best, try adding the following 20 foods into your weekly diet.
The best drink for kidney repair and overall health is plain water, as it helps flush toxins, but mineral water, unsweetened green tea, black coffee (in moderation), low-potassium juices (like unsweetened cranberry), and herbal teas (like ginger or mint) are also great for variety and added benefits, while sugary sodas, alcohol, and coconut water should generally be avoided. Always consult a doctor for personalized advice, especially with kidney disease.
7 Foods to Avoid with Kidney Disease and Diabetes
The progression of kidney disease can be slowed, but it cannot always be reversed. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the total loss of kidney function. Dialysis and transplantation can extend the lives of people with ESRD. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney failure.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top culprits damaging kidneys most, as they harm the delicate filtering blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure; other major factors include smoking, obesity, dehydration, poor diet (high sugar/salt/red meat), certain medications (NSAIDs), lack of sleep, and genetic conditions. These factors create a cycle where damaged kidneys worsen blood pressure, further damaging them.
I would agree the two major elements to my success in raising my GFR is diet and exercise. My diet is low in sodium, sugar, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
Weight loss and increased urine output may be signs your kidney function is returning.