Common constipation drug can help halt kidney decline

A surprising link between constipation and kidney decline led researchers to test lubiprostone, revealing that it can protect kidney function.
The results point toward gut-based, mitochondria-boosting therapies as a promising new avenue for CKD care.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects people across the globe and often progresses to the point where patients rely on routine dialysis to survive.
Although the condition is widespread and serious, there are still no approved medications that can actively restore kidney function.
A team led by Professor Takaaki Abe at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has uncovered an unexpected approach by repurposing a constipation medication.
Their work marks the first time that this drug (lubiprostone) has been shown to slow the loss of kidney function in people with Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
“We noticed that constipation is a symptom that often accompanies Chronic kidney disease (CKD), and decided to investigate this link further,” explains Abe.
“Essentially, constipation disrupts the intestinal microbiota, which worsens kidney function.
Working backwards, we hypothesised that we could improve kidney function by treating constipation,” added Abe.