Customer Reviews

Handbook of Nutrition & the Kidney

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This highly technical medical text provides an outstanding explanation of the nutritional needs of patients with renal disease. The chapter on calcium and phosphorus homeostasis is particularly well written. Because the writers assume the reader has a fundamental understanding of physiology and pathology of the kidney, this book is has limited usefulness for the casual reader. It is most valuable for medical professionals treating patients with renal disease or the medical student who hopes to get maximum benefit from a nephrology rotation.

This book is not an "easy read" because it's really meant to be read by medical professionals, but it's chock full of extremely valuable information and explanations. When a doctor tells a CKD patient to cut back on sodium, potassium, protein, and so forth the explanation of why, what's happening, what effect will the present unchecked diet have is often very vague. I am a care giver in that I do the cooking for a CKD patient. To understand the function (or lack of function) of a failing kidney, and to understand why these things become important, is important to me. So while I skipped most of the chemistry, I got some very valuable information and was able to ask more informed questions at the next nephrologist's visit.

It's perfect for anyone who works with kidney patients and is involved in the nutrition treatment. It provides you with thorough, yet concise information.