Two years ago, nephrologists and other health care providers who attended the ASN Renal Week seminars heard talks about an emerging concern in the field. Diagnostic test preparations, such as products used to cleanse the bowel prior to colonoscopies, were identified as causing damage to the kidneys.

During the 2007 conference, Dr. Glen S. Markowitz of Columbia University provided an update on the risks of acute and chronic renal failure related to the use of oral sodium phosphate solution, also known as OSPs. This product is widely used to prepare the bowels before procedures such as colonoscopy or surgery. Dr. Markowitz point out that there was a special concern about a rare but serious type of renal failure called acute phosphate nephropathy associated with the use of OSPs.

A year after the 2007 Renal Week conference, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after receiving several reports of kidney injury associated with use of OSPs, issued a black box warning on prescription brands of the product, such as Visicol and Osmo Prep. Fleet, makers of over-the-counter OSP solutions, followed suit by pulling their products from store shelves.

The 2009 ASN Renal Week conference will be held in San Diego, California. The annual scientific meeting includes presentations of original research such as free communications and posters, as well as a wide array of symposia, conferences and courses on a full range of topics from basic science to clinical practice and public policy.

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › 2009 ASN Renal Week is Oct. 27-Nov. 1

The randomized controlled trial involved 134 people with both chronic kidney disease and metabolic acidosis, a condition in which there is an acid-alkali imbalance in the blood resulting in high blood acidity and low bicarbonate levels in the blood. Kidney failure and metabolic acidosis can be caused by various conditions and even solutions, including oral sodium phosphate (OSP) products, such as over-the-counter Fleet solutions and prescription brands Visicol and Osmo Prep, used to cleanse the bowel prior to colonoscopy, radiological procedure or colon-rectal surgery.

Participants in the study also did not suffer from other medical conditions such as morbid obesity, cognitive impairment, chronic sepsis, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled blood pressure.

The baking soda, or sodium barcarbonate, treatment was taken by participants daily over a two-year period, and urine samples were taken every two months to check creatinine levels. Creatinine is a waste product that healthy kidneys remove. Measuring how much creatinine is in the urine gives an idea how severe is one’s kidney disease.

Researchers found that only 9 percent of people given the sodium bicarbonate supplements suffered from rapidly progressing chronic kidney disease, compared to 45 percent of those who did not take the supplement. Only 6.5 percent of participants who took the supplement developed end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis, compared to 33 percent of patients who did not take the supplement. The supplements also showed to improve nutritional benefits with no unusual adverse events reported.

The researchers have called for a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to provide stronger evidence of the oral bicarbonate supplement for people with chronic kidney disease.

Source: NHS

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › Baking soda may help those with kidney problems ward off dialysis

“In retrospect, multiple risk factors for this condition … were identified,” according to a case review published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The woman had hypertension; used diuretics and AT-II receptor blocker; was of female gender and advanced age; and experienced volume depleting due to vomiting and nausea. “If these factors had been taken into consideration prior to prescribing this drug, acute and chronic renal failure would have been prevented.”

But, even patients without risk factors have experienced serious kidney injury following use of OSP products, which earlier this year prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a black box warning on prescription OSP products such as Visicol and Osmo Prep. The agency expressed similar concern for over-the-counter OSP products, such as Fleet Phospho-soda and Fleet Accu-Prep. In turn, manufacturer C.B. Fleet issued a recall of its over-the-counter products.

Despite the warnings, authors of the NCBI article issued this opinion: “On the basis of the current state of knowledge the evidence seems to be quite compelling not to prescribe these drugs in patients with one or more associated risk factors. It could even be argued that these drugs should not be prescribed at all.”

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › OSP products ’should not be prescribed at all’

A clean and productive colon is key to preventing non-digestible bacteria and toxins that linger in the intestinal wall from reabsorbing into the body. That means, for optimal health one should eliminate waste two to three times a day – or within six to 18 hours after every meal.

The best way to get things moving? A healthy plant-based diet high that’s high in fiber. This, too, helps reduce one’s risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and “other 21st Century diseases,” according to Alive, without the discomfort of colon cleansing treatments and the threat of serious complications.

“Eating the right foods can clear your colon of debris,” according to Alive. Plant-based foods are the best pick. Choose from vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, nuts and whole grains that are high in fiber. A high-fiber diet contains plenty of non-digestible product that sweeps through the colon and naturally cleans it out.

That sweeping motion massages and exercises the intestinal tract, which stimulates the peristalsis. It also retains water, which helps to soften stools, making them easier to pass. Foods with both soluble and insoluble fiber are best for the colon and include items such as flax seed and oats.

Most people only consume 10 grams of fiber a day, but experts recommend between 20 to 35 grams for optimal health. To increase your fiber intake, aim to have five or more servings of fruits and vegetables and six or more of whole grains every day.

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › High fiber diet is safest way to clean colon

Brian didn’t follow the advice of a doctor and admits that he later learned that a water-only diet wasn’t the best idea for prepping his bowel for cleansing. A fruit juice diet would have been a better option, he says. But from the looks of it, it appears that the professional cleanse did its job.

Some may choose to go about cleansing through other means, like taking supplements or high doses of over-the-counter laxatives. Whatever your choice, be advised that some products have recently fallen under an FDA warning because of the risk of a rare but serious form of kidney disease associated with oral phosphate products.

The warning was associated with the prescription brand names Visicol and OsmoPrep, but the FDA voiced similar concerns with over-the-counter laxatives such as Fleet Phospho-soda made by C.B. Fleet. While safe in lower doses to treat occasional constipation, the products are not safe at higher doses that are often used for colon cleansing.

Click below to watch the video. The video is not graphic, but may disturb the squeamish. It’s also pretty long, at about 20 minutes run time.

Source: YouTube, DepressingProspects

SOURCE: Fleet Attorney › Colon cleanse video gives a glimpse of what to expect