Elizabeth Renter ~ Grapefruit Compound Can Protect Kidneys, Prevent Cysts

NaturalSociety  April 10 2014

GrapefruitIf you don’t suffer from it or know someone who does, you may not even know what polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is. But not only is the disease relatively common, it is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Thankfully, a new study indicates a flavonoid in grapefruit could hold the key to preventing cysts associated with the disease and treating PKD overall.

PKD affects some 500,000 people in the US and is the fourth-leading cause of kidney failure. It’s a genetic disease characterized by the growth of cysts in the kidneys. These cysts can lead to kidney enlargement and ultimately failure.

Researchers with Royal Holloway University of London have found naringenin, a compound responsible for the bitter flavor in grapefruit, could help prevent these cysts and the complications associated with PKD.

The researchers found that naringenin is able to regulate the protein responsible for PKD, known as PKD2. While naringenin is also found in other citrus fruits, it is most concentrated in grapefruit.

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