Answers
Frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers on polycystic kidney disease, ketones, and the research behind KetoCitra and Ren-Nu — each grounded in a peer-reviewed source. For education, not medical advice.
What is polycystic kidney disease (PKD)?
Autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease — roughly 1 in 1,000 people — caused by mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 gene. Fluid-filled cysts grow in both kidneys over decades, enlarging them and slowly reducing function; about 75% of people need dialysis or a transplant by age 70. It's systemic, too — commonly involving polycystic liver disease, high blood pressure, and a higher risk of brain (intracranial) aneurysms.
What is a ketogenic diet, and why study it for PKD?
A ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates, which shifts the body toward burning fat and producing ketones like β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). The key insight from the lab: cyst-lining cells in PKD are "metabolically inflexible" — they lean heavily on glucose and can't switch fuels well. In rat, mouse, and cat models, inducing ketosis (or giving BHB alone) slowed and even partially reversed cyst growth — pointing to a dietary lever on a genetic disease.
What is β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)?
BHB is the main ketone your body makes during fasting or a ketogenic diet. Beyond being an efficient fuel, it's a signaling molecule: it inhibits enzymes called HDACs (switching on protective genes) and helps calm inflammation. In PKD models, oral BHB on its own reproduced much of the benefit of a full ketogenic diet.
What is KetoCitra?
KetoCitra is a medical food, co-developed by Dr. Torres through Santa Barbara Nutrients, that combines BHB with citrate plus potassium, calcium, and magnesium — delivering about 51 mEq of alkaline base. The idea: BHB supports ketosis, while citrate and the minerals counter the acidic urine and microcrystals (oxalate, phosphate) linked to faster PKD progression. In an animal model, BHB and citrate together were synergistic.
Is a ketogenic diet safe or proven for PKD?
It's promising but early. The first randomized trial (KETO-ADPKD) found a ketogenic diet feasible and linked it to improved kidney function over three months, with mostly mild, transient side effects. But the authors were explicit: this does not amount to a general recommendation to adopt a ketogenic diet for PKD. Longer trials are needed, and there are things to watch — like cholesterol changes and kidney-stone risk. Anyone with PKD considering dietary changes should work with their nephrologist and a registered renal dietitian.
What is the Ren-Nu program, and who is it for?
Ren-Nu is a dietitian-supervised program that puts this research into practice: a plant-focused ketogenic diet that avoids the kidney stressors oxalate, inorganic phosphate, and purines, paired with the KetoCitra medical food. It's designed for people with ADPKD who want structured, kidney-safe dietary guidance from registered renal dietitians. Learn more at ren-nu.org.
Does Dr. Torres offer consultations? What do they cover?
Yes — health coaching, fitness and training, and general questions about metabolism and wellness, online or in the Santa Barbara area. These are educational, research-grounded coaching sessions — not individualized medical or dietary prescriptions. For diet guidance specific to PKD, Dr. Torres points people to the Ren-Nu program and its registered renal dietitians.
Where can I follow the research?
See the Publications page for peer-reviewed papers (each linked to its source), the Videos page for talks and interviews, and the interactive Science page for how ketones and the injury model act across the body in PKD.
This page is for education, not medical advice. Talk with your nephrologist and a registered renal dietitian before making changes. For PKD-specific diet guidance, see the Ren-Nu program.