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Need Remedies for Lowered Kidney FunctionPosted By Chris C (Melbourne, Australia) on 05/23/2023
What is the easiest way to improve my kidney function, please? I am scared of the future. I have no family history of poor function, I don't smoke, and eat healthily.
Please reply.
Replied by Art (California) on 05/24/2023
Previously I have discussed the organ protective effects of melatonin and the kidneys fall into that category. Melatonin has shown very positive effects in the kidneys as discussed here :
Here is a relevant quote :
' Furthermore, melatonin exerts pluripotent protective effects in the kidneys by receptor-mediated or receptor-independent biological actions [8]. It modulates mitochondrial metabolism, increases ATP production and protects mitochondria against nitrative damage. Melatonin limits oxidative stress directly by inactivation of free radicals through the donation of one or more electrons. Additionally, pineal indoleamine, a melatonin metabolite, exhibits indirect antioxidant action by stimulating the expression of major antioxidant enzymes, for instance, superoxide dismutase and catalases. In chronic injury, melatonin played an important role by suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators and initiating a protective effect against inflammatory damage [8]. '
Melatonin is also useful for helping to normalize creatine levels as discussed here:
Here is a relevant quote :
' A robust consensus among researchers of these studies suggested that melatonin efficiently eradicate the chain reaction of free radical production and induced the endogenous antioxidant enzymes which attenuate the lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes and subcellular oxidative stress in drug-induced nephrotoxicity. This agreement was further supported by the melatonin role in disintegration of inflammatory process through inhibition of principle pro-inflammatory or apoptotic cytokines such as TNF-α and NF-κB. These studies highlighted that alleviation of drug-induced renal toxicity is a function of melatonin potential to down regulate the cellular inflammatory and oxidative injury process and to stimulate the cellular repair or defensive mechanisms. '
I don't know how old you are, but melatonin levels decline with age and the effects of this decline start to become noticeable beyond the age of 40.
Art
Replied by Christine C (Melbourne, Australia ) on 05/24/2023
Hi Art, thank you for the reply. I am 62 years old.Melatonin dosage would be? Is this a short term treatment or for life?
I have been using the ACV and bicarbonate soda twice daily.
Replied by Art (California) on 05/24/2023
Chris C,I forgot to include this third study(January 2023) regarding the kidneys and melatonin :
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/6/838
Here is a relevant quote :
' The impact on the cardiovascular system, diabetes, and homeostasis causes melatonin to be indirectly connected to kidney function and quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease. Moreover, there are numerous reports showing that melatonin plays a role as an antioxidant, free radical scavenger, and cytoprotective agent. This means that the supplementation of melatonin can be helpful in almost every type of kidney injury because inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress occur, regardless of the mechanism. The administration of melatonin has a renoprotective effect and inhibits the progression of complications connected to renal failure. It is very important that exogenous melatonin supplementation is well tolerated and that the number of side effects caused by this type of treatment is low. '
Art
Replied by Art (California) on 05/24/2023
Christine C,I can only give you my opinion on dosing, but can not tell you what to take.
Start at 5 mg per night to first see how you tolerate melatonin. If tolerable, add 5 mg per week until you reach 30 mg. If tolerable, continue up to 50 mg each night. Recent studies in humans have used this dose and I wrote a recent post about sepsis and multiple organ failure where this dose was used to effectively significantly reduce multiple organ failure in people with sepsis. Here is a link to that post :
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/blood_poisoning.html#melatonin
As far as how long you take it, I can only tell you what I do. I take 132 mg per night as a preventative and protective agent against multiple health conditions and plan to take it for life.
I have written a lot about the health benefits of melatonin on Earth Clinic and in my opinion the cardiovascular disease fighting effects of melatonin are more than worth it to me. I have written about that here :
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/melatonin-for-cardiovascular-disease.html
If there was a drug that had similar effects against the number one cause of death in the world, cardiovascular disease, it would be a blockbuster drug, but there is not a drug that offers the same benefit as melatonin in terms of CVD protection and prevention.
Melatonin offers multiple health benefits while having a very good safety profile.
One issue for you, is availability down under?
If you find that melatonin is not tolerable for you at higher dosing, let me know and I can make another suggestion.
Art
Replied by peter (chicago) on 06/16/2023
Hi Art, need your help! My wife has been taking 5 mg melatonin with 10mg of B6 in each pill (3pills total a day) for kidney problem. Should she just taking more melatonin without the B6? Would there be problem with too much B6? I want to increase her dosage of melatonin per your suggestion . I forgot mentioned to you her melatonin has 10 mg of b6. I hope I did not overdose her too much B8.Replied by Christine C (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/09/2023
Hi Art,Your suggestion regarding Melatonin in high doses to improve kidney function. Melatonin is difficult to source here in Au. Only sold in 2mg slow-release form, and is quite expensive at over $1 per tablet. Also, the packet says do not use if you have kidney issues, which I find quite perplexing. Is there some outlet that Melatonin is affordable and available in higher doses.? Thank you for your time. -Christine
Replied by Art (California) on 06/10/2023
Christine C,There are multiple supplements that can be healthful for chronic kidney disease, but melatonin will not be a practical option for you due to expense and poor availability. In order to make different suggestions, it would be helpful to know if your doctor has told you what is causing the chronic kidney disease, such as diabetes.
The other issue is that it is my impression that many of the supplements that are readily available here in the US, may not even be available down under. Let me know if you know the cause of the kidney disease. Also, is berberine available in Australia?
Art
Replied by Christine (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/11/2023
Hi Art, Thank you for the reply. No diabetes, as blood sugars, were normal. We don't know what has caused the kidney function to drop. I had a recent, rather nasty Urinary tract infection, my GP thought that may have caused it. I have mild hypertension on anti-hypertensives for that. I have had Fibromyalgia for many years, I treat this with oral magnesium and also magnesium oil. I also have Coeliac disease, so I have to eat gluten free. I had osteoporosis, but I have managed to reverse that over a 2 year period, using supplements, green smoothies, and exercise. My GP was horrified when I refused to use big pharma medication for Ostoeporosis. I can access Berbarine online.Thank you again. Christine
Replied by Art (California) on 06/11/2023
Christine,If the poorer kidney function was related to the UTI, it should resolve on its own now that the UTI is gone.
The topical and oral magnesium combo is good for the fibromyalgia. There are some scientist that believe that insulin resistance can be a contributing factor to fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia is known to have chronic inflammation as a component. Too bad that melatonin is not practical for you to get in Australia as it is also helpful for fibromyalgia.
Berberine can be useful for ameliorating kidney damage, improving insulin resistance, improving osteopenia and osteoporosis, lowering elevated inflammatory markers related to pain and significantly reducing oxidative stress markers and is likely useful overall for fibromyalgia because of its multiple healthful effects. So if your kidney function does not improve now that the UTI is in your rearview mirror, you have berberine as a potential replacement for melatonin.
If you end up using berberine start at one 500 mg capsule per day taken during a meal and slowly working up to 3 capsules per day in 3 divided doses always with a meal. Some people require time to adjust to berberine so starting low and slow can allow the body to adjust to accepting berberine.
Art
