Does Ramadan Fasting Affect Hydration Status and Kidney Function in CKD Patients?

Background/aims: This study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of the Ramadan fasting on hydration status, plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 2 groups of patients with CKD grades 2-4: thirty-one Muslim patients who fasted the month of Ramadan (fasting group) and 26 Muslim patients who did not fast (control group). One week before the Ramadan fast, in the last week of the month of Ramadan (4 weeks), and 4 weeks after the end of the Ramadan month (8 weeks), hydration status and blood analysis of urea, creatinine and BNP levels were measured.

Shear wave elastography imaging for assessing the chronic pathologic changes in advanced diabetic kidney disease.

Objective: The assessment of the grade of renal fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) requires renal biopsy, which may be associated with certain risks. To assess the severity of chronic pathologic changes in DKD, we performed a quantitative analysis of renal parenchymal stiffness in advanced DKD, using shear wave elastography (SWE) imaging.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-nine diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) grades 3-4 due to DKD, and 23 healthy subjects were enrolled.

Vitamin E therapy results in a reduction in HDL function in individuals with diabetes and the haptoglobin 2-1 genotype.

Objective: Vitamin E provides cardiovascular protection to individuals with diabetes and the haptoglobin 2-2 genotype but appears to increase cardiovascular risk in individuals with diabetes and the haptoglobin 2-1 genotype. We have previously demonstrated that the haptoglobin protein is associated with HDL and that HDL function and its oxidative modification are haptoglobin genotype dependent. We set out to test the hypothesis that the pharmacogenetic interaction between the haptoglobin genotype on cardiovascular risk might be secondary to a parallel interaction between the haptoglobin genotype and vitamin E on HDL function.