What is kidney health?
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that clean your blood and turn waste into urine. Inside each one are tiny filtering units that hold on to what you need and release what you do not. The kidneys also balance salt and water, help control blood pressure, support red blood cell production and activate vitamin D. They do this work quietly, often without you noticing.
How your genes play a role
Genes influence the structure of the kidney's filters, the proteins it produces and the hormones that guide blood flow. Some variants are linked to how the filtering barrier holds together. Others shape blood pressure signals that affect the kidneys. These tendencies interact with hydration, blood pressure, blood sugar and medications.
Kidney changes are often gradual and silent, which makes understanding your tendencies especially valuable. Knowing which pathways may be more sensitive for you can help you and your clinician decide which routine tests are worth watching, such as kidney function markers in blood and urine. It also highlights how closely kidney health connects to blood pressure and blood sugar, so that care for one supports the others.
What your report shows
Your Kidney Health results are explained in plain language in your private EvoDNA account, alongside the other areas in your kit.
- Filter structureVariants linked to the cells and proteins that form the kidney's filtering barrier.
- Kidney proteinsGenes that shape proteins made by the kidney, such as uromodulin.
- Pressure signalsHow hormone pathways that affect both blood pressure and kidney blood flow may work for you.
- Ancestry-linked variantsVariants whose frequency differs between populations and are studied in kidney health.
| Gene | What it does | Result |
|---|---|---|
| APOL1 | Certain variants, more common in people with West African… | Typical |
| UMOD | Makes uromodulin, a protein produced only in the kidney… | Moderate effect |
| CST3 | Produces cystatin C, a protein clinicians measure in blood… | Typical |
Each result comes with a plain-language explanation and practical points to discuss with your clinician.
Illustration only. Your report reflects your own genetic results.
Genes we analyze
| Gene | Role |
|---|---|
| APOL1 | Certain variants, more common in people with West African ancestry, are linked to kidney health in research. |
| UMOD | Makes uromodulin, a protein produced only in the kidney that helps protect the urinary tract. |
| CST3 | Produces cystatin C, a protein clinicians measure in blood to estimate kidney filtering. |
| SHROOM3 | Helps shape kidney cells and is linked to the structure of the filtering units. |
| AGTR1 | Encodes the receptor that responds to angiotensin, a hormone that narrows blood vessels and affects kidney blood flow. |
Full panel: 11 genes
APOL1, MYH9, UMOD, SHROOM3, SLC14A1, SLC39A8, CST3, UROMODULIN, AGT, ACE, AGTR1
Putting results to use
Many people use their results as a starting point for conversations with their clinician about:
Drinking enough fluid for your needs is often discussed as part of kidney care.
Because pressure and kidneys are closely linked, regular readings are commonly encouraged.
Many people review sodium intake with their clinician to ease the load on the kidneys.
Asking your clinician about regular pain reliever use is a sensible conversation to have.
Questions
Can genes predict kidney disease?
No. Variants can point to tendencies, but kidney health depends on many factors, including blood pressure, blood sugar and medications.
Why does ancestry matter for some kidney genes?
Some variants, such as those in APOL1, are more common in certain populations. Knowing about them can help guide conversations with your clinician.
How is kidney function usually checked?
Clinicians typically use blood tests such as creatinine or cystatin C, along with a urine test for protein.
Only interested in this area? The Kidney Health Genetic Report is available on its own for $99.00.
