Potassium Restriction in Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease

Potassium Restriction

Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a critical condition requiring careful management of various dietary factors, with potassium being one of the most significant. Potassium is essential for the body, but when kidney function deteriorates, the kidneys become less able to clear the extra from the blood. Why is this important? High potassium doesn't make your kidneys decline faster, but if it builds up to very high levels in the blood, it can supercharge your heart causing it to short-circuit. That means the electrical signals to the heart can become confused, and the heart can stop.

Potassium is not only about Food

The recommended amount of potassium varies from person to person, typically ranging from 1,500 mg to 3,000 mg daily. The amount you can eat depends on several factors including kidney function, thyroid health, blood acidity levels, medications, and the breakdown of muscle tissues. In patients with advanced CKD, the kidneys are less capable of removing potassium. Dietary recommendations are therefore based on the individual.

Foods High in Potassium: A Cautionary List

When managing potassium intake, it is important to identify and limit high-potassium foods. My recommendations to patients are to generally avoid the very high potassium foods such as:

• Potatoes

• Bananas

• Avocado

• Tomato sauce

• Orange juice

• Breadfruit

• Beans (cooked from dried)

• Haddock

• Pollock

• Salmon

• Fresh tuna

• Milk

• Soya milk

The potassium level in your blood matters when choosing the strength of your restriction. For example, if your potassium is only mildly high, you may just need a restriction of the very high potassium foods listed above. If your potassium is very high, you may want to strictly remove most high and even medium potassium foods. You may be able to gradually add them back in based on your doctor's or dietitian's recommendations. This way you can test the amount of potassium safe for your own individual health.