Feeling gutted in chronic kidney disease (CKD): Gastrointestinal disorders and therapies to improve gastrointestinal health in individuals CKD, including those undergoing dialysis

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 9.1% of the population worldwide. CKD may lead to structural and functional gastrointestinal alterations, including impairment in the intestinal barrier, digestion and absorption of nutrients, motility, and changes to the gut microbiome. These changes can lead to increased gastrointestinal symptoms in people with CKD, even in early grades of kidney dysfunction. Gastrointestinal symptoms have been associated with lower quality of life and reduced nutritional status. Therefore, there has been considerable interest in improving gastrointestinal health in this clinical population. Gastrointestinal health can be influenced by lifestyle and medications, particularly in advanced grades of kidney dysfunction. Therapies focused on gastrointestinal health have been studied, including the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, yielding limited and conflicting results. This review summarizes the alterations in the gastrointestinal tract structure and function and provides an overview of potential nutritional interventions that kidney disease professionals can provide to improve gastrointestinal health in individuals with CKD.