Daily Dose Of Baking Soda Could Help Kidney Patients

LONDON, England (WUSA)--A daily dose of baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) can slow down the progress of chronic kidney disease, British scientists claim.

The researchers say the baking soda could prevent kidney patients from needing dialysis.

Study leader, Magdi Yaqoob, Professor of Renal Medicine at the Royal London Hospital, says, "What happens is the inflammation of kidney is prevented by baking soda because a chemical reaction takes place limiting ammonia production in the kidney."

Doctors have long wondered about the potential value of baking soda for kidney disease patients who commonly suffer from low bicarbonate levels, a condition called metabolic acidosis.

The pilot study conducted at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. Researchers studied 134 patients. Rapid progression of kidney disease occurred in just 9 per cent of patients given baking soda compared with 45 per cent of the non-treated group.