Constipation treatment to improve gut and kidney health in people with chronic kidney disease
Official title: Clinical, Biochemical, and Microbiological Effects of Constipation Treatment in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Trial
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11159760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This pilot will see if treating constipation improves gut bacteria, blood markers, and overall health in people with chronic kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $296,464 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135942-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic kidney disease who regularly have constipation, can provide stool and blood samples, and can attend study visits would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic constipation, those with intestinal obstruction or severe gastrointestinal disease, or those unable to tolerate laxatives may not benefit and could be ineligible.
What this research studies
Participants with chronic kidney disease who have constipation would receive a prescribed constipation treatment and be followed over a defined period. The study team will collect stool and blood samples before and after treatment to measure changes in gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, inflammation, and markers of kidney function. Bowel habits, safety, and tolerability will also be tracked to determine whether the approach is practical for people with CKD. Findings will help decide if larger studies are warranted and whether constipation care could offer benefits beyond improving bowel movements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, treating constipation could lower harmful gut-derived toxins and inflammation and potentially improve kidney-related health and overall outcomes for people with CKD.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have shown constipation treatment can change the gut microbiome and slow kidney damage, but human data are limited and this pilot is among the first to test these effects in people with CKD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sumida, Keiichi — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sumida, Keiichi
Related research
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Chronic Kidney Disease in Children: following young people as they grow up with CKD
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Malaria-related kidney injury and its link to chronic kidney disease in children
This grant looks at why some children who have malaria develop kidney injury and later chronic kidney disease, focusing on how severe malaria affects the kidneys over time.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.