https://doi.org/10.51514/JSTR.8.1.2026.9-20
Chandrakanta Mourya and Deepa Malviya
ABSTRACT
A rising worldwide health burden, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is heavily impacted by dietary changes marked by increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), excessive sodium intake, and metabolic risk factors. There is still little data from low- and middle-income nations, such as India. This study uses combined worldwide comparative data and an Indian adult cohort to investigate relationships between food patterns, salt load, metabolic risk indicators, and CKD prevalence. 1,248 Indian people between the ages of 30 and 65 participated in a cross-sectional analytical study. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to measure dietary intake, which was then divided into UPF consumption tertiles. CKD was defined using the albumin-creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Age, sex, BMI, hypertension, and diabetes were all taken into account in multivariable logistic regression. The prevalence of CKD was 11.6%. Participants in the highest UPF tertile had significantly greater odds of CKD (Adjusted OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.22 – 2.94; p = .004). Sodium intake >3.5 g/day was independently associated with reduced eGFR (β = −4.8 mL/min/1.73m²; p < .001). Mediation analysis showed hypertension explained 32% of the sodium – CKD association. High UPF consumption and elevated sodium intake significantly increase CKD risk, partly mediated through metabolic dysfunction. Dietary reformulation and sodium reduction policies are critical for CKD prevention in India and globally.
Keywords: CKD, Sodium intake, ultra processed food, Indians, Metabolic disorder etc.
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