Chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure are serious health issues that affect African American adults much more than other groups. These conditions can lead to kidney failure and heart problems if not addressed. To tackle this, Dr. Meera Patel and Dr. Heather Kitzman, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center explored how a specific diet could help improve the health of African American adults with these challenges. Their findings, published in the journal Metabolites, shed light on how simple dietary changes can make a difference and identify early signs of worsening health.
Dr. Heather Kitzman’s team introduced a six-week intervention at the Baylor Sott and White Health and Wellness Center that added a recommended two cups of fruit and vegetables per day into the routine diet. This diet was designed to reduce the harmful effects of certain foods that produce acid in the body, which can worsen kidney health, and to support better kidney and heart function. The study involved African American participants with chronic kidney disease (stage 1-3) and hypertension from a community experiencing poverty in the Southern Sector of Dallas. These participants were divided into two groups: one followed the intervention diet and the other continued with their usual diet. This research design allowed Dr. Patel, the project lead, to compare the two groups and see how the diet affected health over time.
The study showed small but promising improvements in the health of those who followed the diet. Changes in markers of kidney health, such as the ratio of albumin to creatinine, which measures how much protein leaks into the urine and indicates kidney function, weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure were not dramatic, but those on the special diet did see slight improvements. Dr. Patel explained, “Although the results are preliminary, they suggest that increasing fruit and vegetable intake could contribute to long-term improvements in kidney and heart health.”
A key part of the study was a detailed analysis of tiny substances in the body, known as metabolites, which are produced during the body’s metabolic processes and reflect how the body is functioning. By examining these substances, the researchers identified certain molecules in the body that were linked to worsening kidney function and higher risk of heart problems. For example, one molecule called propionylcarnitine is linked to how the body processes fats and may signal stress in energy production. Another molecule called kynurenine is tied to inflammation, the body’s natural response to injury or infection that can become harmful when prolonged. A compound known as choline, which affects liver and muscle health, was also identified. Control group participants who followed their routine diet showed clear increases in these harmful molecules, while those who followed the intervention diet had stable or slightly lower levels.
The researchers noted that changes in these tiny substances could appear before major health problems are noticeable, showing the potential of such analysis to detect issues early. Dr. Patel shared, “Our findings highlight the promise of studying these small molecules to find risk factors earlier and create more personalized strategies to help people improve their health.”
The study also highlighted the importance of factors like income and access to nutritious foods, which play a big role in managing long-term health problems. Participants in the program received free fruits and vegetables, making the diet accessible and showing how such an approach could work in other communities with limited access to fresh food.
Despite its positive findings, the study had some challenges. It lasted only six weeks, and the researchers relied on participants to report how well they stuck to the diet. Future studies will need to run for longer periods to fully understand the benefits of such diets and how they might work with other treatments. Dr. Patel expressed hope, saying, “This research lays the groundwork for larger trials that could change how we think about preventing kidney and heart problems.”
This research demonstrates the potential of combining simple, affordable diets with advanced analysis of tiny substances in the body, a method known as metabolomic profiling, to address long-standing health disparities. This type of profiling provides a snapshot of metabolic health by analyzing these small molecules and how they interact within the body. The approach offers a roadmap for creating targeted solutions that could help people live healthier lives while reducing the risks of serious conditions like kidney disease and heart disease.
Journal Reference
Patel, M. J., Emerenini, C., Wang, X., Bottiglieri, T., Kitzman, H. “Metabolomic and Physiological Effects of a Cardiorenal Protective Diet Intervention in African American Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease.” Metabolites, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14060300
About the Authors
Dr. Patel is a translational researcher with over 11 years of experience. Throughout her academic and post-doctoral years, she has conducted biomedical, molecular, and genetic-based research in a scientific laboratory and community-based settings. Patel’s academic career during her masters and doctoral education entailed proteomic and molecular research in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems to better understand protein function and pathogenesis. For postdoctoral training, she had the privilege to work within the largest non-profit health care system in Texas, Baylor Scott and White Health, to pursue a community-based clinical research experience. She continues to apply her biomedical scientific background at a community level to better understand population health approaches to improve chronic diseases in high-risk underserved populations. Patel’s primary focus is to apply her translational research background to community-based participatory research and pragmatic trial studies to address health disparities in socially disadvantaged populations and improve health outcomes at a larger scale. Currently, as an instructor in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center, she serves as a Co-Investigator for several ongoing pragmatic national clinical trial studies.
Dr. Kitzman is currently an Associate Professor in the Peter J. O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Director for the Office of Community Health and Research Engagement for the Clinical Translational Science Award. She has conducted federally funded community-engaged translational and clinical research related to chronic disease in lower income populations. For the past two decades, Dr. Kitzman’s research has focused on randomized trials and cohort studies in clinic and community-based settings related to chronic disease and precision medicine in primarily lower income and ethnic minority populations. She has been a PI or Co-I on > 40 scientific studies and has over 140 research products. She has extensive experience as a PI managing diverse teams to successfully enroll minority participants in large multi-site national trials. Kitzman has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes in minority and lower income populations with a primary focus on developing tools to improve access and participation in research, as well as dissemination of study findings to broad audiences.
