How acid balance affects muscle energy and endurance in people with chronic kidney disease
Official title: Impact of metabolic acidosis on muscle mitochondrial energetics, metabolic health and physical endurance in persons with chronic kidney disease
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11170665 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The project seeks to help people with chronic kidney disease by treating metabolic acidosis to improve muscle energy use and physical endurance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $640,719 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129793-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170665 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic kidney disease, especially those with low blood bicarbonate or symptoms of metabolic acidosis and trouble with walking or stamina, would be the best fit for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic kidney disease, those who do not have metabolic acidosis, or patients already on dialysis are unlikely to benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use a safe, noninvasive muscle scan (31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy) plus walking and endurance tests to see how your muscles produce and use energy. They will measure blood and muscle-related metabolic markers, body composition, and insulin-related measures to understand links between acid balance and muscle health. Some participants may receive treatments to raise bicarbonate levels, like oral bicarbonate, while others are followed to compare changes over time. The team wants to know whether improving acid balance can reduce muscle fat, boost mitochondrial function, and help you stay more mobile and independent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to treatments that improve muscle strength, stamina, and metabolic health for people with CKD, helping maintain independence.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small studies and clinical experience suggest oral bicarbonate can improve nutrition and some muscle outcomes in CKD, but results are limited and this project uses advanced muscle imaging to provide clearer evidence.
Where this research is happening
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University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roshanravan, Baback — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Roshanravan, Baback
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How metabolic acidosis affects muscle health and endurance in people with chronic kidney disease
This study looks at how a condition called metabolic acidosis affects muscle health and energy in people with chronic kidney disease, especially older adults, to find ways to help them stay strong and active.
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Personalized CKD-MBD care using systems biology and AI
A patient-facing program aims to tailor mineral-balance therapy for people with chronic kidney disease by using a computer model and smart decision rules to predict who will respond best to treatments.
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Mitigating DKA in people with type 1 diabetes and kidney disease using SGLT1/2 inhibitors
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Chronic Kidney Disease in Children: following young people as they grow up with CKD
A long-term study in kids with chronic kidney disease tracks kidney function and heart health as they transition into adulthood.
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Chronic Kidney Disease in Children follow-up study
A long-term study that follows kids with kidney disease as they grow into young adults, collecting health data from home and official records.
-
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.