Urea and impairment of the Gut-Kidney axis in Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Gut microbiota can be considered a real organ coordinating health and wellness of our body. It is made of more than 100 trillions of microorganisms, thus about 3 times higher than the number of human body cells and more than 150 times than human genes containing 1000 different microbe species. It has been described a symbiotic relationship between gut and kidney, confirmed by several observations. This is a bi-directional relation with a mutual influence, even when kidney disease occurs, and consequent alterations of intestinal microbiota and production of uremic toxins, that in turn worsens kidney disease and its progression. Our review analyzes the components of gut-kidney axis and relative clinical consequences.

Keywords: Mediterranean Diet; Short Chain Fat Acid; VLPD; indoxyl sulphate; microbioma; p-cresol sulphate; prebiotics; probiotics; urea.