Sendai, Japan, August 29, 2025
In a surprising medical discovery, a common drug for constipation has been found to slow the decline of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Researchers from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine announced the results of a Phase II clinical trial, demonstrating that the drug, lubiprostone, shows a previously unknown renoprotective effect, potentially transforming the treatment approach for a disease that affects millions worldwide.
Key Highlights
* Unexpected Benefit: The study revealed that lubiprostone, typically used to treat chronic constipation, can suppress the decline in kidney function in CKD patients.
* Gut-Kidney Connection: Researchers believe the drug works by improving mitochondrial function through the promotion of beneficial gut bacteria.
* New Therapeutic Strategy: This discovery suggests a new approach to CKD treatment that focuses on the gut-kidney axis, moving beyond the conventional focus on reducing uremic toxins.
* Dose-Dependent Effect: The study found that the drug’s effectiveness in slowing kidney decline was dose-dependent, with both 8 µg and 16 µg doses showing a positive impact.
The LUBI-CKD clinical trial, conducted at nine medical institutions in Japan, enrolled 150 patients with moderate CKD. The study’s primary objective was to evaluate the effects of lubiprostone on kidney function, measured by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The results were significant: compared to the placebo group, patients treated with lubiprostone experienced a suppressed decline in eGFR. This is the first time that this specific drug has been shown to have a direct beneficial effect on kidney function.
The research team, led by Professor Takaaki Abe, was prompted by the observation that constipation is a common symptom in patients with CKD. They decided to investigate the link between the gut and kidney health. Their findings suggest that lubiprostone’s effect is not just about relieving constipation. Instead, it seems to work at a deeper, molecular level. The drug was found to increase the production of spermidine, a polyamine that is believed to improve mitochondrial function. This occurs by promoting the growth of certain gut bacteria, highlighting the crucial connection between the gut microbiome and kidney health.
This discovery has the potential to reshape the conventional approach to CKD treatment, which has traditionally focused on managing symptoms and slowing the accumulation of uremic toxins in the blood. The new findings suggest a fresh therapeutic strategy where simple laxatives could be used to suppress renal function decline, offering hope for a new, accessible, and effective treatment for a debilitating disease.
