Kidney tonic" is not a diagnostic term in modern medicine. Currently, there is no commonly used functional food for everyone that has been proven to help the kidneys become healthier, increase eGFR or cure chronic kidney disease.
Some products can supplement vitamins and minerals when the body is really deficient. However, this supplementation does not mean the ability to restore damaged kidney tissue.
Patients should not consider "kidney-nourishing" products harmless just because they are advertised to originate from herbs or natural ingredients. Some products may contain undisclosed ingredients, heavy metals, or pharmacological active ingredients.
Even vitamins and minerals in overdose can have adverse effects. For example, high-dose vitamin C supplementation can increase the risk of oxalate formation or deposition in some people.
In people with impaired kidney function, the ability to excrete some active substances and electrolytes is limited. Self-use can increase blood potassium, causing heart rhythm disorders, edema, or interaction with medication being treated. Meanwhile, the safety and effectiveness of many "supplementary", "detoxifying" or "alternative" therapies have not been fully studied.
According to MSc.BS. CKI Tran Quoc Phong, Head of Urology Unit, An Binh Hospital, people need to be especially careful with advertised products that can cure kidney failure, quickly lower creatinine, restore kidney function or help patients avoid dialysis.
Notable advertising signs include using user testimonies instead of scientific evidence; not clearly disclosing the content of each ingredient; lacking information about the manufacturer, origin and registration number; or affirming "100% natural, so absolutely safe".
In fact, the origin of "herbs" or "natural" does not mean absolute safety. Some products on the market have been warned by management agencies because they contain unannounced active ingredients or impurities that pose a risk to health, including kidney damage.
People with kidney disease, a history of recurrent kidney stones, high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, using anticoagulants or cardiovascular medication, as well as those preparing for surgery, should consult a doctor before using any supplements.
When going for examination, patients should bring boxes or clear images of the product and ingredient list for doctors to assess the risk of interaction, instead of just providing names according to advertisements.
It is important not to expect functional foods to replace medications or monitoring and treatment measures for kidney diseases that have been prescribed by a doctor.
