PKD DIET

Potassium Citrate PLD

Empirical Knowledge is Knowledge Grasped from Within

We with cystic organs are very lucky. We have within our grasp a true knowledge of what it is like living within a body with cystic organs. We have a verifiable pool of experience of empirical knowledge. This is our collective group understanding of PLD.

For many with PLD, with cysts within our liver, we have tried alkalinity, it works. It diminishes our symptoms. We do not yet know why alkalinity works to diminish PLD symptoms. We do not yet know why citrate diminishes PLD symptoms, we do not know why eating fruits and vegetables helps PLD. We have experienced that it does indeed help diminish symptoms.

Potassium Citrate Works in the PKD Model

If it works in PLD is unknown. We have only our own observations; our own empirical knowledge; our collective experiences that for us alkalinity works to diminish symptoms.

"The GFR [kidney functioning] of rats with PKD that consumed potassium citrate dissolved in water from one month of age was normal at six months of age, while those of their counterparts on water alone was . . .one third of normal.

Long-term [potassium citrate] treatment extended the average life span of rats with PKD from 10 to 17 months [Potassium Citrate almost doubled the potassium citrate PKD life span]. . . Rats with PKD show abnormal renal handling of citrate and ammonia.

Citrate salts have an alkalinizing effect, preserve GFR [kidney functioning] and extend survival."

Alkaline Researchers

I liken Alkaline Potassium Citrate Researchers: George and Judy Tanner to a young Galileo desperately trying to refute a thousand year old theory first established by a Greek named Aristotle. It is often quoted as a laughable example of blind dogma, even so some Aristotelian scholars refused to look through Galileo‘s telescope to actually see the moons of Jupiter. They insisted that if in fact they did see something, it had to be a trick. There was something to make them see things that were not there. They were so convinced, from their prior knowledge of the established body of physics, that there could be no moons surrounding Jupiter. Galileo was unable to explain to their satisfaction how his telescope worked. Yet Galileo thought these philosophers when faced with the sightings through this tube of the moons of Jupiter, they would be willing to overturn their centuries old knowledge on the basis of this mysterious little metal tube. In their eyes it was Galileo who was ridiculous - even pitiable - how could Galileo teach anything to the age old science of Aristotle?

Galileo tried another approach. He is said to have dropped a bag of feathers and a ball simultaneously from the top of the leaning tower of Pisa - Italy. Galileo demonstrated the advantages of experimentation. This was the beginning of the science of free fall acceleration. Aristotle on the other hand, had historically proclaimed that a heavier object would fall and hit the ground at a much faster rate. This was thought to be logical; though it was incorrect. This theory of Aristotle was incorrect though fully believed for centuries until finally disproven by Galileo.

ADPKD and ADPLD

I am all for taking the let's try it approach; let's see if this works or not approach. I am not a great debater. I am more akin to the Romans; let's experiment.

Science often interplays with our own experiences. According to medical science, those with genetic severe liver cysts inherited through ADPLD or ADPKD — 92% of these individuals will have little or no symptoms. Many of us reading this page happen to be included amongst the other 8%. This 92% statistic does not apply to us. The PLD symptoms we experience become so severe that it can become life-threatening. For us, the other 8%, we must ignore this generalist thinking and seek through our own mutual experiences how to make some sense of dealing with Polycystic Liver Disease, how to lessen PLD symptoms and sometimes unfortunately, how to convince friends, family, doctors, researchers that we are truly experiencing severe painful symptoms so we can illicit their help.

Medical textbooks should be changed. Doctors think because it says in a book, that there is no decrease in liver functioning that we can sail along through life without symptoms. This is not true. The absence of diminished liver functioning does not mean that there is an absence of symptoms. We the other 8%, have to help our doctors understand our disease.

I think our own observations are fueling tomorrow's research. It is our questions that stimulate medical research to find answers.

An Aside—PLDiet Bridge

This depiction of the Mathematical Bridge connects the older half of the college [affectionately referred to by students as The Dark Side] with the newer half [The Light Side], and is one of the most photographed scenes in Cambridge (a typical photo is taken from the nearby Silver Street bridge).

According to popular fable, the bridge was originally designed and built by Sir Isaac Newton without the use of nuts or bolts, and at some point in the past, students or fellows (depending on which fable version you hear) attempted to take the bridge apart and put it back together. The myth continues that the over-ambitious engineers were unable to match Newton's feat of engineering, and had to resort to fastening the bridge by nuts and bolts. This is why nuts and bolts can presently be seen in the bridge.

We are  sharing our experiences with PKD/PLD Diet, an adjunct diet envisioning it complementing a physician's prescribed medical therapy. Consider testing this with your doctor's prior knowledge, who can  adjust it according to your own uniqueness by adding it to your current  treatment.

Medical Disclaimer