Southern-style diet comprised of processed meats, fried foods and sugary beverages increases early death risk in people with chronic kidney disease, a research by the University of Alabama suggests.
The study was based on the data collected from the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke and noted that 3,792 people with stage 3 chronic kidney disease had not started dialysis.
The analysis of their diet over a 6 year follow up showed that the patients who primarily had a Southern-style diet had 50 percent increased risk of death.
"This adds to the evidence that suggests that the foods that they eat can meaningfully impact long-term survival in individuals with kidney disease," lead author Orlando Gutiérrez, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the UAB Division of Nephrology, said in a press release.
Researchers also found that including fruits and vegetables improved the chances of survival, however, it did not shield from the progression of the disease.
The team said that it is better to focus on the general pattern of diet rather than individual nutrients for a lifestyle change.
The research team stated that it was unclear whether the dietary patterns examined reflected foods people consumed or were just a good marker of overall lifestyle habits. "It is possible that the Southern pattern of eating is a just a good marker of an unhealthy lifestyle, and not so much unhealthy eating," Gutiérrez said. "Even if the latter is the case, it certainly suggests that adopting healthy habits such as engaging in physical activity and eating a healthy diet are important for long-term outcomes."
A previous research by the UAB found that Southern-style diet exacerbated the risk of having a stroke. Researchers found that eating a Southern diet accounted for 63 percent higher risk of stroke among African-Americans compared to whites.
The study was published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
