The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised Nigerians against subjecting themselves to excessive fast which leads to kidney problems.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said this while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Monday.
She also noted that using substandard, unwholesome products can also lead to kidney failure and death.
Kidney failure happens after your kidneys can no longer properly filter your blood. This causes toxins to accumulate in your body.
Prof. Adeyeye, attributed the high rate of kidney failure in Nigeria to prolonged fasting by some religious adherents and insisted that those subjecting themselves to prolonged fasting on religious grounds must moderate the act.
“We are a very religious country – Muslims and Christians, we fast a lot and it is part of the kidney problem. Your body has to have homeostatic balance, meaning the water level in your body must be enough to make your organs function.
“Some people will fast for 20 days or 10 days without drinking even a little bit of water and the kidney is being punished and it can damage your kidney because the kidney does not have water to dilute and filter, that is what some of us do.
“I fast but I fast with common sense. You have to fast with common sense or else you pay with your kidney.”
The NAFDAC boss also warned against patronising hawkers and corner stores for medicines.
“Do not buy medicines from hawkers, do not buy medicines from corner stores, buy medicines from pharmacies.”
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