Decline is not inevitable.
A daily, evidence-graded view of everything moving in kidney research : the drugs that slow decline, the science of regeneration, and the mind-body work.
New links found between belly fat, muscle loss, and worse kidney outcomes — but no proof yet that changing them helps
Today's research highlights three observational studies linking body measures — podocyte size in a specific kidney disease, muscle loss in diabetes, and belly fat in chronic kidney disease — to worse health outcomes. All three studies show associations only, not cause-and-effect, and none tested interventions. Most of today's findings come from data analyses or early-stage research, with no new treatment results reported yet.
Podocyte hypertrophy in segmental sclerotic lesions correlates with poor renal outcomes in PLA₂R-associated membranous nephropathy
In people with a specific kidney disease (PLA₂R-associated membranous nephropathy), larger podocytes in certain lesions were linked to worse kidney outcomes, but this observational study shows only a connection — not proof that changing podocyte size would help.
Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study
In older adults with type 2 diabetes, muscle loss (sarcopenia) was linked to higher rates of hospital stays and death — but because this is a snapshot in time, it shows only a connection, not proof that fixing muscle loss would prevent those outcomes.
Weight-adjusted waist index and risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease: NHANES 2005–2018 analysis of 5,381 adults
In over 5,000 adults with chronic kidney disease, a measure of belly fat (weight-adjusted waist index) was linked to higher risk of heart problems and death — but this study cannot prove that belly fat caused those outcomes, only that they tend to occur together.
Processed qMSI count matrices from IRI mouse kidneys
This is raw data from mouse kidneys — not people — used to test a new imaging method for kidney injury. It is early lab work, and it is not yet clear if this will help humans.
Urinary angiotensinogen indexed to creatinine or protein is higher in cats with surgically induced chronic kidney disease compared to healthy cats
In cats with surgically induced kidney disease, a protein called angiotensinogen was higher in urine — but this was tested only in animals, not people, so it is too early to say what this means for human treatment.