Biomedical research lab at the University of California Santa Barbara focusing on polycystic kidney disease and other things!
Santa Barbara, California, USA
Joined November 2016
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Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
New in @JnlMetabHealth: a Delphi consensus guideline from the @TheSMHP on implementing therapeutic carbohydrate reduction in metabolic disorders. An excellent piece of work: Practical, clinician-focused, and free to read. Congratulations to @sarah4info and team 👏
journalofmetabolichealth.org…
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
Review by @therealjacobt et al. (@weimbslab) β-Hydroxybutyrate: a renoprotective #hormone in polycystic #kidneydisease
ow.ly/mgNV50ZMEV1
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
Looks like the Europeans are learning about CKD and ketogenic diets in Salzburg this November.
Low carb diets and renal function We showed for our patients with T2Diabetes kidney function improved on a low carb diet pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3446… @weimbslab
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
On #PKDAwarenessDay, know your reproductive options. 💜
Families impacted by #PKD have options that can help reduce the chance of passing the disease to future generations.
Learn about IVF with PGT-M and our Grant Program: pkdfree.org/pkd-free-babies
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
A Major Trial Put Keto Against the Mediterranean Diet. Keto Won.
1/4) In a head-to-head showdown between a keto diet, a Mediterranean diet, and a low-fat plant-based diet, keto came out on top for several cardiometabolic outcomes.
The researchers concluded: “These results demonstrate that a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet has greater cardiometabolic benefits [than matched Mediterranean and plant-based low-fat diets]”
But there are some important nuances. Let’s get into them. (don’t miss 3/4) 🧵👇
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
September is #PKDAwarenessMonth. 💜
Awareness grows when we share information and start conversations.
Our “5 Things Every PKD-Impacted Family Should Know” educational resource covers #PKD, #genetictesting, #familyplanning options, #IVF with #PGTM, and more: pkdfree.org/5-things-every-p…
Know someone impacted by #polycystickidneydisease? A quick conversation could help them discover options they didn’t know were available.
1/3 Is tolvaptan's kidney "benefit" in ADPKD a measurement artifact?
New paper: high water intake → less eating → muscle loss → lower creatinine → falsely "preserved" eGFR. ~1%/yr muscle change could explain the TEMPO3:4 effect.
Cystatin C measured but never reported. Why?
2/3 The same trap applies well beyond ADPKD.
SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide, tirzepatide) also shift body composition — so their "kidney protection" on creatinine-based eGFR deserves the same scrutiny.
Build cystatin C into trials.
3/3 📄 Groothof, Erler & Bakker, Open Research Europe (open access):
doi.org/10.12688/openreseuro…
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
A new study reports that a ketogenic diet improved fatty liver, liver insulin resistance, and prediabetes better than a Mediterranean or a low-fat plant-based diet.
And here’s the most encouraging part. It wasn’t due to greater weight loss. It appears to be unique to carbohydrate reduction. 🧵
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026
⏰ 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET
💻 Live on Zoom
Free registration to join: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi…
Is it worth it? When it comes to living with PKD, nutrition and lifestyle changes can come with real tradeoffs.
Join us for our next Ren-Nu™ Community Meeting for an honest, practical conversation about what changes may matter most, what you might gain, and how to build healthy habits that actually fit into real life.
We’ll discuss navigating travel, social events, family life, cost, cravings, and more—without falling into an all-or-nothing mindset.
Hear from members of our team, including:
Thomas Weimbs, PhD — President & Chief Scientific Officer, Santa Barbara Nutrients
Sharon Turban, MD, MHS — Medical Director, Ren-Nu™
Kathy Jensen, MS, RDN — Director of Nutrition, Ren-Nu™
Jacob Torres, PhD — Research Scientist, UCSB
Melina Messing, PhD — Scientific Director, Ren-Nu™ & PKD Patient
Dwight Odland — Patient Advocate & PKD Patient
Patients, caregivers, and practitioners are all welcome. Bring your questions and join the conversation!
Register using the QR code above!
This meeting is intended for general education and community discussion and does not provide individualized medical advice.
#PKD #PolycysticKidneyDisease #KidneyHealth #RenalNutrition #KidneyNutrition
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
We are thrilled to welcome Wakana Koizumi, RD, MPH to Santa Barbara Nutrients as our new Research Dietitian! Wakana brings expert clinical nutrition & ADPKD research experience from Juntendo University to support our Ren-Nu™ program. Welcome! #PKD #Nutrition #SBN Link: santabarbaranutrients.com/bl…
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
New Guest Blog Article from Dr. Isreb: “Does a High-Protein Diet Harm Healthy Kidneys?” Read now to learn the exciting facts!
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
What does it take to manage Type 1 diabetes while cycling 1,000 miles?
Check out the interview below, in which our Ren-Nu Scientific Director, Dr. Melina Messing, speaks with Dr. Ian Lake @idlake about this extraordinary experience and the story behind his book, Shifting Gears: The 1,000-Mile Ride That Changed My Mindset on Type 1 Diabetes.
They discuss how Ian managed insulin, glucose, nutrition, and the physical demands of the ride, as well as the five pillars he considers foundational to health: nutrition, physical activity, mindset, environment, and circadian rhythm.
While the conversation centers on Type 1 diabetes, many of Ian’s insights into metabolic health, resilience, and understanding your own body are also highly relevant to people living with PKD.
📺: youtube.com/watch?v=uhe_cspH…
Get the book: a.co/d/02CY0RQg
#MetabolicHealth #Type1Diabetes #PKD #PatientEmpowerment
Another nail in the coffin of the “protein consumption causes kidney disease” myth
Generations of people were told to lower protein consumption, without evidence, which can cause adverse effects.
Study here:
academic.oup.com/ckj/article…
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
Drew reached out after 4 months of therapeutic ketosis while living with bipolar disorder, and we're so glad he did.
Messages like this keep us going.
Has ketogenic therapy made a difference for your mental health? We'd love to hear your story in the comments. 👇
#MetabolicMind #FromOurInbox #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicPsychiatry #BipolarDisorder
Very large study and long-term suggests that ketogenic metabolic therapy is effective in slowing or preventing chronic kidney disease progression
virtahealth.com/press/virta-…
New study supports kidney protection by ketosis:
--> 1392 patients with type 2 diabetes
--> median 23.2-month follow-up
--> highest ketone body tertile was associated with significantly lower risk of ≥40% eGFR decline
sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
Thomas Weimbs, PhD retweeted
Obesity HAS DOUBLED since 1995!! It’s because we have serious problems with our food supply, 60% is junk bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0x… Our younger people are particularly badly hit. Junk food is addictive like cigarettes. In ourNHS practice we achieve 10% weight loss @drjenunwin @BraciaRodzen
