Blood Flow Restriction Training Blunts Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Humans

Purpose: to verify the effect of six months of periodized resistance training (RT) with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) in patients with stage two chronic kidney disease (CKD) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), uremic parameters, cytokines, and Klotho-fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) axis. Methods: 105 subjects were randomized in 3 groups of 35 each: control (CTL), RT, and RT+BFR. A first visit was required for an anamnesis to evaluate the number of medications, and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, and body mass index). Muscle strength (1-RM) was assessed. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and after six months of training in all patients for the analysis of markers of renal function and integrity, as well as for the determination of the inflammatory profile. Statistical significances were adopted with p < 0.05. Results: both training therapies attenuated the decline of GFR (p 0.05) but presented a large effect size (Cohen’s d), demonstrating a propensity for improvement. Conclusion: six months of periodized RT with and without BFR in patients with stage two CKD attenuated the progression of the disease by maintaining GFR, improving uremic parameters, cytokine profile regulation, and Klotho-FGF23 axis.