Could high heat cooking and food processing promoting neo-formed contaminants partially explain the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease in South Asian populations? A hypothesis

The occurrence of chronic heart and kidney diseases among the South Asian populations has been rising exponentially over the years. Research has been carried out in the past to explain the increased susceptibility with no resultant strong evidence. Various possible causes have been suggested with a previous hypothesis suggestive of high heat cooking techniques being responsible for increased production of neo-formed contaminants such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and trans-fatty acids (TFAs) leading to increased chronic heart diseases among the South Asian diaspora (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka in South Asia and overseas). The aim of this study proposes the high-heating cooking techniques and subsequent NFCs also to be responsible for the development of chronic kidney ailments among the South Asians. Review of the literature was conducted to ascertain the burden of accumulation and actions of AGEs and TFAs on kidney structure and functions. The varied high-heat cooking techniques including reheating of oils, food processing and kinds of food sources and their association with increased NFCs production and kidney damage were explored. Higher NFCs content of AGEs/TFAs in reheated oils at elevated temperatures and TFAs among processed and fast foods of South Asians was associated with elevated diabetic complications and CKDs progression in few animal and human studies but the research on the actual burden of NFCs in the renal tissues of South Asians was lacking. We hypothesize the high heat cooked foods generating increased levels of NFCs to be responsible for the preponderance of higher risk of CKDs among South Asians. Scientific exploration of the hypothesis to obtain quantifiable evidence of NFCs is suggested. •Traditional South Asian food involves cooking at high temperatures.•Linking high heat cooking with CKD aims to provide a framework for future research.•Neo-formed contaminants maybe responsible for the development of CKD among the South Asians.