Sodium Bicarbonate has been shown to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and to improve nutritional status in kidney patients.
The doses used in the research were 600-650mg. given 2 or 3 times per day which is equal to 1/8 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in water or one capsule of sodium bicarbonate. It is generally used in those with chronic metabolic acidosis. Overt chronic metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease develops after a drop of glomerular filtration rate to less than approximately 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. The pathogenic mechanism seems to be a lack of tubular bicarbonate production, which in healthy individuals neutralizes the acid net production. New clinical trials are now going on to further determine who benefits and how much is needed per day.