The Effect of the Dialysate on Food Consumption by Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
The effect of intra-abdominal dialysate on food consumption was studied in 10 stable adult continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) subjects with persistent hypoalbuminaemia. Each subject recorded food intake for 2 consecutive weeks. During one of the weeks, subjects ate their food after draining out the fluid and in the other week, meals were consumed with the dialysate in the peritoneal cavity. There were no significant differences in protein, carbohydrate, fat, or calorie intakes, irrespective of whether the fluid was in or out. There was a marked variation in maximum and minimum daily food intakes during either week: mean difference for protein was 48 g/d. Thus the presence of intra-abdominal dialysate does not directly affect food consumption in CAPD patients. Reduction of the variability of nutrient intake might improve nutrition.