Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease is a renal condition involving the kidneys. This page provides a focused overview of the condition and examines how selected options, including Hatha Yoga, Curcumin, Iron, and TENS / EMS Therapy, relate to it.
Chronic Kidney Disease is a renal condition with a focused overview of the topic.
This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.
What may help
What studies found for each option, best evidence first.
10 options:2 some evidence3 not enough evidence3 not tested in people2 no benefit found
CardiopracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Large
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded found increased s-Klotho levels with chronic exercise. In haemodialysis populations, pooled analyses also reported improvements in 6MWT, VO2 peak, SBP, and depression, with low to moderate GRADE certainty.
Open the Cardio pageStrength TrainingpracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
4 of 5 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
In people with Chronic Kidney Disease, pooled analyses whose designs were not recorded found lower IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP and higher IL-10 with resistance training; a review also reported better grip strength and performance on timed up-and-go and sit-to-stand tests. Exercise also increased Klotho, a surrogate biomarker, but that analysis did not measure outcomes such as mortality, hospitalization, or disease progression.
Open the Strength Training pageInfrared SaunapracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A 2026 randomized trial tested acute passive heat exposure in 10 people with chronic kidney disease; the findings were described as informing future trials of chronic heat therapy for cardiovascular health.
Open the Infrared Sauna pageMeditationpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
Open the Meditation pageMindfulness MeditationpracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
An RCT involving 29 people with chronic kidney disease found reduced sympathetic reactivity to mental stress after MBSR versus a health education program.
Open the Mindfulness Meditation pageAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)practiceNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
ACT may help people with Chronic Kidney Disease manage illness-related distress, treatment adherence, and quality of life by supporting acceptance of uncertainty and symptom burden.
Open the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) pageHigh-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)practiceNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
HIIT is described as improving physical function and cardiovascular fitness in people with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease.
Open the High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) pageSwimmingpracticeNot tested in people
Only tested in animals, cells or theory. Results like these often do not carry over to people.
The one study found a benefit.
Supervised swimming improves physical function and quality of life in stable Chronic Kidney Disease, including among people on dialysis.
Open the Swimming page
May not suit people with this condition
Supplements and practices linked to problems for people with this condition.
FastingpracticePossible
A meta-analysis pooling randomized and non-randomized human studies lists advanced Chronic Kidney Disease among groups for whom fasting is not advisable without tailored medical oversight.
Open the Fasting pageSea Moss (Irish Moss)supplementPossible
Impaired renal excretion of potassium combined with sea moss's high potassium content increases the risk of life-threatening hyperkalemia.
Open the Sea Moss (Irish Moss) pageChagasupplementUnclear
Chaga can contain very high oxalate concentrations, and prolonged or high-dose intake has caused oxalate nephropathy. Reduced renal clearance increases this risk.
Open the Chaga page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What may help
Interventions recorded as helping with this condition10 listedMost likely to help, from the evidence we have
- →PracticesCardioCertaintyMediumSourceRCTLarge effect
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded found increased s-Klotho levels with chronic exercise (SMD 1.87; 95%CI 1.06-2.68; p<0.00001). In haemodialysis populations, pooled analyses also reported improvements in 6MWT, VO2 peak, SBP, and depression, with low to moderate GRADE certainty.
How big is the effect
Large effectA big difference on average. Check how strong the evidence is.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Open CardioStudy result
5 studies pooled: chronic exercise significantly increased s-Klotho levels (SMD 1.87; 95%CI 1.06-2.68; p<0.00001)
- →PracticesStrength TrainingCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
In people with Chronic Kidney Disease, pooled analyses whose designs were not recorded found lower IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP and higher IL-10 with resistance training; a review also reported better grip strength and performance on timed up-and-go and sit-to-stand tests. Exercise also increased Klotho, a surrogate biomarker, but that analysis did not measure outcomes such as mortality, hospitalization, or disease progression.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes Type2
- Sarcopenia
Open Strength TrainingStudy result
Network meta-analysis of 37 RCTs (n=1,930): resistance training significantly reduced IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP and increased IL-10 vs control; all exercise modes combined improved all four inflammatory markers.
Low probability(6)
- →PracticesInfrared SaunaCertaintyLowSourceClinical
A 2026 randomized trial tested acute passive heat exposure in 10 people with chronic kidney disease; the findings were described as informing future trials of chronic heat therapy for cardiovascular health.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Open Infrared SaunaStudy result
Study population of CKD patients in whom acute passive heat exposure was tested; authors describe the findings as informing future chronic heat-therapy trials for CKD cardiovascular health.
- →PracticesMeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical
Primary endpoint (DS-II demoralization) significantly improved versus usual care in the RCT (MD −5.06, 95% CI −6.92 to −3.20) among patients with moderate-to-severe demoralization.
Open MeditationWho was studied
- People with a condition
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- →PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical
An RCT involving 29 people with chronic kidney disease found reduced sympathetic reactivity to mental stress after MBSR versus a health education program.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Open Mindfulness MeditationStudy result
Reduced sympathetic reactivity to mental stress in CKD participants after MBSR versus HEP; primary endpoint of sympathetic reactivity improved
- →PracticesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)CertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
ACT may help people with Chronic Kidney Disease manage illness-related distress, treatment adherence, and quality of life by supporting acceptance of uncertainty and symptom burden.
Open Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Study result
ACT may help patients with chronic kidney disease manage illness-related distress, treatment adherence, and quality of life by promoting acceptance of uncertainty and symptom burden.
- →PracticesHigh-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)CertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
HIIT is described as improving physical function and cardiovascular fitness in people with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease.
Open High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)Study result
HIIT improves physical function and cardiovascular fitness in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients
- →PracticesSwimmingCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Supervised swimming improves physical function and quality of life in stable Chronic Kidney Disease, including among people on dialysis.
Open SwimmingStudy result
Supervised swimming improves physical function and quality of life in stable CKD patients, including those on dialysis.
Very low probability(2)
- →PracticesFinnish SaunaCertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
A cohort study of 2,071 people found no association between frequent sauna bathing and incident chronic kidney disease (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.46-1.53) during a 25.7-year follow-up, so the studies did not support this indication.
Open Finnish SaunaWho was studied
- Healthy people
- →PracticesRed Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)CertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
A crossover trial of 15 people found no significant change in strength, fatigue, lactate, or pain after a single photobiomodulation session. The studies did not support the proposed benefit for chronic kidney disease.
Open Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Chronic Kidney Disease
What to avoid
Interventions recorded as making it worse3 listedHighest probability
- →PracticesFastingCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
A meta-analysis pooling randomized and non-randomized human studies lists advanced Chronic Kidney Disease among groups for whom fasting is not advisable without tailored medical oversight.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
Study result
Conclusions list advanced CKD among high-risk groups for whom fasting is not advisable without tailored medical oversight.
Open FastingRationale
Conclusions list advanced CKD among high-risk groups for whom fasting is not advisable without tailored medical oversight.
- →SupplementsSea Moss (Irish Moss)CertaintyMediumSourceReference knowledge
Impaired renal excretion of potassium combined with sea moss's high potassium content increases the risk of life-threatening hyperkalemia.
Low probability(1)(1)(0)
- →SupplementsChagaCertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge
Chaga can contain very high oxalate concentrations, and prolonged or high-dose intake has caused oxalate nephropathy. Reduced renal clearance increases this risk.
Open ChagaRationale
High oxalate content may worsen kidney function and increase stone risk.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Chronic Kidney Disease is a renal condition involving the kidneys. This page provides a focused overview of the condition and examines how selected options, including Hatha Yoga, Curcumin, Iron, and TENS / EMS Therapy, relate to it. These options should not be treated as interchangeable, and individual evidence varies.
Evidence-backed options
The evidence associated with Chronic Kidney Disease covers different types of options and outcomes, so the findings are not directly interchangeable. Hatha Yoga was evaluated in people with a clinical condition, with changes observed after 4 months. This provides a defined time frame for the reported findings, but it does not establish how quickly changes may appear before that point.
Curcumin was studied as oral turmeric supplementation in patients with chronic kidney disease, while Iron is described in pharmacology references in both oral and intravenous forms when iron-related factors contribute to anemia. The information for Curcumin and Iron is narrower than a broad treatment conclusion: the health status was not specified for these entries, and the evidence does not establish that either option applies to every person with Chronic Kidney Disease.
TENS / EMS Therapy was examined in a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Its findings did not show a statistically significant improvement in the reported dialysis-related measures compared with the reference intervention, so this option should not be interpreted as having established benefit for those outcomes. Overall, the evidence is limited across the options, with different study populations, forms, and time frames. A clinician can help interpret whether any finding is relevant to a particular case of Chronic Kidney Disease.
What to avoid
Several items are flagged because reduced kidney function can limit clearance or increase the kidney’s workload. BCAA, Beta-Alanine, L-Leucine, Tryptophan, Taurine, Whey Protein, and Collagen may increase nitrogen waste, involve amino acid processing, or add protein load. This may worsen renal stress, particularly in advanced CKD; protein or amino acid restriction is often recommended in stages 4-5 CKD, and Whey Protein may require careful restriction in stages 3-5 without dialysis. Tryptophan metabolites and Taurine may also accumulate when clearance is impaired, although the clinical significance of Taurine accumulation is uncertain.
Citrulline, Glucosamine, Magnesium, and Vitamin B7 (Biotin) are renally cleared or substantially dependent on renal handling. Altered clearance may lead to accumulation. Magnesium accumulation can cause hypermagnesemia, with risks including cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory depression, and death; it is contraindicated in severe renal impairment (GFR <30). Biotin accumulation may worsen lab test interference, while rare cases of acute kidney injury have been reported with Glucosamine. Creatine should not be initiated without clinician or nephrology oversight because safety data in impaired filtration are limited and its conversion to creatinine can make creatinine-based renal monitoring misleading.
Vitamin A and Vitamin C raise different concerns. Reduced renal catabolism can increase circulating retinol and allow Vitamin A toxicity at lower supplemental doses. High-dose Vitamin C can be metabolized to oxalate, which may accumulate with reduced renal clearance and cause oxalosis or oxalate nephropathy. Oxalate concerns also apply to Cranberry Extract and Chaga; Chaga may contain very high oxalate concentrations, while Cranberry Extract may increase the risk of oxalate nephropathy and kidney stones. Calcium may accumulate because impaired excretion increases hypercalcemia risk, and Potassium-enriched salt is widely considered unsuitable in advanced kidney disease.
Apple Cider Vinegar may affect acid load or potassium balance. Chlorella raises concerns about heavy-metal accumulation and purine-related uric acid burden. Finnish Sauna is flagged for review, but no mechanism is recorded and the restriction is not verified. Any medical condition or supplement decision warrants clinician or nephrology consultation.