Prolonged Fasting Can Cause Kidney Failure – NAFDAC Warns

Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has advised Nigerians against subjecting themselves to long-hour fasting, as it portends danger to their kidneys.

Prof Adeyeye, who attributed the high rate of kidney problems in Nigeria to prolonged fasting by some religious adherents, cautioned that those subjecting themselves to prolonged fasting on religious bases must moderate the act.

She gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing  newsmen on the breakthrough by the agency in tracking a huge consignment of tramadol and other pharmaceuticals to the Republic of Benin.

On the high rate of kidney failure in the country, she said: “Kidney failure, we are a very religious country- Muslims and Christians fast a lot and it is part of the kidney problem.

“Your body has to have homeostatic balance, meaning that the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs to function.

“Some people will fast for 10 or 20 days and drink only little water, the kidney is being punished. Now, if you put chemicals in it, it triples in exponential manner, it damages the kidney because the kidney doesn’t have water to dilute and filter.”

She however, cautioned Nigerians to fast in moderate manner to avoid developing a kidney disease.

“I fast but with common sense. We have to fast with common sense, otherwise we will pay with our kidneys.”