Impact of dietary education on blood cadmium and mercury levels in chronic kidney disease: a path to renal health improvement

73 www.kosinmedj.org Exposure to cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) is a significant risk factor for renal dysfunction [1-5]. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, already burdened with impaired kidney function, are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of these heavy metals on their health and prognosis. In an effort to mitigate the impact of Cd and Hg, a recent prospective, single-arm, pilot study investigated the potential of dietary education in CKD patients with elevated Cd and Hg levels. The study enrolled 27 patients with CKD and implemented a targeted dietary intervention approach. Patients with blood Cd level equal to or greater than 1.4 μg/L were advised to decrease their intake of shellfish, while those with blood Hg level equal to or greater than 5.0 μg/L were instructed to reduce their consumption of blue-colored fish. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of dietary modifications in reducing the burden of Cd and Hg in such patients. The results of the study, involving seven dialysis patients Editorial