Improved Fruit and Vegetable Access to Reduce Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Kidney Health.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affects African American (AA) and Hispanic individuals in the United States (U.S.), with higher rates of progression, complications, and mortality. Despite advances in pharmacologic treatment, disparities persist, highlighting the need for additional evidence-based, community-level strategies. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables (F&V) are linked to reduced CKD incidence, progression, mortality, and improved cardiovascular disease risk, the leading cause of death in patients with CKD. Although F&V-based diets are recommended for managing diabetes and hypertension, the primary causes of CKD, these diets remain underprescribed and underutilized. Poverty, limited education, and low health literacy reduce F&V access in minoritized communities, worsening CKD-related outcomes. Interventional studies show that high F&V diets, alongside standard care, slow CKD progression and reduce cardiovascular disease mortality. Expanding community-level F&V access might increase dietary uptake and improve outcomes for those with CKD and related conditions, helping reduce racial/ethnic disparities in kidney health across the United States.