Baking Soda for treating Failing Kidneys

Baking soda is known to be useful for cooking, cleaning, treating sunburn and kidney health? New research suggests sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Researchers studied 134 patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and low bicarbonate levels. Patients were divided into two groups, one receiving a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in tablet form, and the other continuing their routine treatment. In the group receiving the baking soda tablets, the decline in kidney function was reduced by two-thirds. Only 9 percent of those taking the tablets experienced a rapid progression of kidney disease, compared with 45 percent in the second group.

Baking soda may be an inexpensive and simple way to treat patients with chronic kidney disease. However, researchers note during the study, they were aware of which patients received the tablets and there was no placebo group. Future studies will be necessary for validation.