Approach to Anorexia in Chronic Kidney Disease from Avicenna’s Point of View in Canon of Medicine: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Objectives: 35%-50% of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) suffer from anorexia, reducing the quality of life and increasing morbidity and mortality. Its causes and definitive treatment are not fully known. In this study, Avicenna’s management in his medical book "Canon of Medicine" was presented to help solve this problem. Materials and Methods: "Loss of appetite" and its MeSH heading term "anorexia," also "chronic kidney disease," were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and UpToDate databases. In Iranian traditional medicine, loss of appetite by "Noghsan-e-shahvat-e-taam", renal weakness by "Zafe-e-kolye", and ascites by "Estesgha" were searched in "Canon of Medicine". Results: According to Avicenna and modern medicine, kidneys play an essential role in normal appetite, and both suggest treatment based on the stage of the disease. Avicenna has described the treatment in 4 principles: lifestyle modification, elimination of waste products accumulated in the body, non-oral therapies, and herbal medicine. He processed food in the diets, which reduces their side effects and improves their digestion, and in the studies conducted, it was in line with the nutritional recommendations of modern medicine. Conclusions: Given the importance of anorexia and no known causes and treatment, Avicenna’s perspective can help solve this problem. He has provided various natural, inexpensive, and accessible solutions that can be the basis for future clinical trials.