Over 340,000 Dialysis Patients, ¥1 Trillion in Annual Medical Costs — The Latest Research on Protecting the 'Kidneys'

Explanation

The kidneys are a pair of organs, about the size of a fist, located on either side of the back. They filter the blood sent from the heart, disposing of waste products and excess water and salt the body doesn't need as urine, while returning substances the body needs back into the blood. This function of 'filtration' and 'reabsorption' keeps the body's water volume and salt concentration constant — a classic example of 'homeostasis,' a concept taught in biology.

When kidney function chronically declines, the body can no longer dispose of waste products on its own, making 'dialysis,' in which blood is artificially filtered by a machine, necessary. According to the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy, approximately 347,000 patients were undergoing dialysis as of the end of 2022, with annual medical costs exceeding ¥1 trillion. The leading cause is diabetic nephropathy (about 39.5%), which is closely linked to lifestyle-related diseases.

Because the kidneys are an organ that is difficult to restore once significantly damaged, recent research has focused on the perspective of 'how to prevent kidney aging (anti-aging)' as well as prevention through dietary habits. Avoiding excessive salt intake is considered a basic way to protect the kidneys because processing excess salt places a burden on them. Being conscious of keeping the body's own filtration system running for as long as possible is the starting point for prevention.