The Kidney Nutrition Podcast
Ketones, Cysts & Hope: Can Nutrition Change the Course of PKD?
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The episode
For decades, polycystic kidney disease has been managed by watching blood pressure and waiting. This week we ask a harder question - can what you eat actually change its course?
Host Jenna Alder sits down with nephrologist Dr. Maya Ellison to unpack the emerging science linking metabolism to cyst growth in PKD. They trace the research from the first UC Santa Barbara studies to the structured ketogenic programs being used in clinic today.
It is a candid, practical conversation: what “ketogenic metabolic therapy” actually means for a kidney patient, why oxalates and hydration matter more than most people realize, and how to separate genuine hope from hype when the science is still young.
In this episode
- 01 Why PKD nutrition has been overlooked for so long 00:00
- 02 The metabolism-cyst connection, explained simply 04:20
- 03 What "ketogenic metabolic therapy" really mean 12:45
- 04 Oxalates, hydration, and the details that matter 21:10
- 05 What the early clinical data actually show 33:05
- 06 Where the research goes from here 41:30
Notes
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Notes Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis. Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos.
Meet the voices
Host
Jessianna Saville, MS, RDN, LD, CLT
Jessianna (Jess) Saville is the founder of Kidney Nutrition Institute and The Kidney RD, a renal dietitian, educator, and passionate advocate for using nutrition to change the trajectory of kidney disease. With nearly two decades of experience in renal nutrition, including almost 10 years in dialysis, Jess has made it her mission to help people protect their kidney health long before dialysis becomes necessary.
Recognized as the National Kidney Foundation's 2020 Renal Dietitian of the Year and receiving the NKF 2023 Susan B Knapp Renal Dietitian Award, Jess loves challenging outdated approaches to kidney nutrition, translating research into practical strategies, and helping dietitians see what's possible when nutrition takes center stage in kidney care.
Host
Lindsey Zirker, MS, RD
Lindsey Zirker is a renal dietitian, educator, and self-proclaimed science enthusiast who has specialized in kidney nutrition since 2008. With a background in integrative and functional nutrition, she loves digging into the biochemistry behind kidney disease and connecting the dots between nutrition, gut health, inflammation, and chronic disease.
Lindsey has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on kidney disease and gut health and regularly speaks at professional nutrition conferences. She's passionate about helping dietitians understand the why behind their recommendations and turn complex science into meaningful, individualized care. When she's not exploring biochemical pathways, you'll probably find her enjoying life in Idaho, playing strategy games, or appreciating a really good potato.
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