Foods to Avoid with IgA Nephropathy

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on March 31, 2025
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IgA nephropathy patients are a very common type of glomerular disease. For IgA nephropathy patients, it is crucial to adhere to a light diet, meaning they should avoid foods such as pickles, salted vegetables, kimchi, cured products, smoked products, and barbecues, focusing primarily on fresh vegetables and fruits. Of course, if IgA nephropathy patients also suffer from renal insufficiency, they must avoid various soy products including tofu, bean sprouts, soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, and nut-based foods. These foods contain a lot of plant proteins, which can increase the burden on the kidneys, leading to potential renal insufficiency. Additionally, they should not consume foods high in potassium, such as oranges, bananas, pineapples, etc. Therefore, it is essential for IgA nephropathy patients to be cautious with their diet.

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Written by Hu Lin
Nephrology
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IgA kidney disease symptoms

The clinical manifestations of IgA nephropathy are diverse. The most common clinical manifestations include episodic gross hematuria, asymptomatic hematuria, and proteinuria. Episodic gross hematuria often occurs several hours after an upper respiratory tract infection, or a day or two later. Patients may notice that their urine is dark tea-colored, brown, or fresh red, light red, and this type of gross hematuria tends to recur. The second type is asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, with or without proteinuria, also known as asymptomatic urinalysis. This is often discovered during physical examinations when patients show no symptoms and tests reveal hidden blood and protein positivity in the urine. The third major category is proteinuria, which in some patients may present as nephrotic syndrome-like proteinuria. The fourth is hypertension; the fifth, acute kidney injury; and the sixth, chronic kidney failure. Most patients with IgA nephropathy gradually progress to chronic kidney failure within 10 to 20 years of diagnosis.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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Is IgA nephropathy grade 3 serious?

IgA nephropathy is divided into five stages pathologically, with stage three being the focal proliferative type. The higher the stage, the more severe the condition of IgA nephropathy. Stage three is in the early to middle phase, where generally the condition of the patients is comparatively good, and rarely worsens to uremia, belonging to the low-risk group. Clinically, patients with stage three IgA nephropathy often exhibit repeated occurrences of gross hematuria or persistent microscopic hematuria. Some patients may also experience varying degrees of increased urinary protein. Patients with this stage of IgA nephropathy rarely suffer from hypertension or renal insufficiency, but it is essential in daily life to avoid nephrotoxic drugs, prevent infections, seek medical attention promptly upon infection, and regularly follow up on routine urine and renal function changes. If the condition tends to worsen, active treatment should be pursued.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Kidney disease IgA means IgA nephropathy.

Kidney disease IgA, formally known as IgA nephropathy, is an immunological diagnostic term for chronic glomerulonephritis. It is characterized by the deposition of immune complexes, primarily IgA, in the mesangial areas of the glomeruli. IgA is a type of immunoglobulin, which upon deposition in the kidneys induces inflammatory responses, leading to proliferation of mesangial cells, accumulation of mesangial matrix, and widening of the mesangial area. This can cause damage to the glomerular filtration barrier, manifesting as proteinuria and hematuria. Some patients may also develop crescent formations in the glomeruli, leading to renal failure.

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Written by Hu Lin
Nephrology
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IgA kidney disease's etiology

IgA nephropathy can be divided into primary and secondary IgA nephropathy. Secondary IgA nephropathy includes, for example, lupus nephritis, allergic purpura nephritis, liver disease-related kidney damage, rheumatoid arthritis kidney damage, and so on. The etiology of primary IgA nephropathy is mainly due to the deposition of a type of immunoglobulin, IgA, in the mesangial area of the glomeruli, leading to a series of immune responses, which in turn cause inflammatory damage, resulting in a chronic glomerulonephritis. This form of IgA nephropathy is mainly related to mucosal immune defense, meaning it is linked to certain infectious factors. Additionally, some patients have high reactivity of their mucosa to certain food antigens, which leads to a series of immune-mediated inflammatory responses.

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Can IgA nephropathy stage 2 be cured?

IgA nephropathy is an immunopathological diagnostic term for chronic glomerulonephritis, indicating that the patient has chronic nephritis. In fact, chronic nephritis does not have a concept of complete cure. Stage two patients indicate that the inflammatory reaction within the glomerulus is not very severe, but the patient may also show more proteinuria. In most cases, the renal function of these patients is still normal, and it may be necessary to decide whether to choose medications such as corticosteroids based on the amount of proteinuria. If the patient responds well to medication, the proteinuria may significantly decrease, or even turn negative, but it cannot be completely cured, as this is a chronic disease, and there is also a possibility of relapse in the later stages of the disease. (Please follow the doctor's orders regarding medication use.)