Beetroot Juice Shows Promise for Pregnant Women with CKD
Recent research conducted by King's College London indicates that beetroot juice could be a beneficial supplement for pregnant women suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study, published in Kidney International Reports, explored the effects of dietary nitrate from beetroot juice on kidney health during pregnancy.
Pregnancy exerts additional pressure on the kidneys, and women with moderate to severe CKD face a high risk of kidney function decline during this period. The study involved 108 pregnant women with stage 2–5 CKD from eight hospitals across the UK. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either standard care or a daily beetroot juice supplement containing dietary nitrate before 25 weeks of pregnancy.
The study's primary aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a larger clinical trial. However, the findings also highlighted potential benefits, such as a 70% reduction in serious adverse events for women receiving beetroot juice compared to standard care. Of these adverse events, about half affected newborns.
For women with more advanced kidney disease, the researchers noted trends towards improved post-pregnancy kidney function, fewer neonatal care admissions, and less need for blood pressure medication during pregnancy. Importantly, no safety concerns were identified with beetroot juice supplementation, addressing previous worries about increased hyperkalaemia risk.
Dr. Priscilla Smith, a nephrologist and first author of the study, emphasized that beetroot juice could offer a simple and accessible way to support kidney health during pregnancy. Dr. Andrew Webb, co-author of the study, noted that these findings lay the groundwork for further research to protect women with CKD and their babies.
The study was supported by Kidney Research UK, and the researchers stressed the need for larger clinical trials to confirm whether beetroot juice can significantly reduce kidney function decline and enhance long-term outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
