The Guidance You Need
Glomerular filtration Rate (GFR) is a marker of kidney function and an indicator of the stage of kidney disease. It is calculated by measuring the rate of the blood-flow through the kidneys. As GFR decreases, kidney disease progresses to more advanced stages and patients face different nutritional, hormonal, and metabolic challenges.
While GFR is an standard indicator of kidney function, it tells us very little about other aspects of patient health such that knowing a patient’s GFR is not enough to determine the patient’s nutritional needs. For example, two patients with the same GFR may need different dietary and lifestyle interventions based on their age, body composition, intake of specific nutrients and micronutrients, level of physical activity, and dietary habits.
