Effects of renal-specific oral supplementation in malnourished hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Protein-energy malnutrition is still a problem in patients with chronic renal failure, especially during replacement renal therapy. The chronic inflammatory status in these patients intensifies the malnutrition, as well as making treatment more complicated. The aim of the present study was to estimate the influence of oral supplementation on the nutritional status of malnourished hemodialysis (HD) patients depending on the existence of an inflammatory state.


METHODS
To study the influence of oral supplementation on nutrition status, 30 HD patients with protein-energy malnutrition characteristics and 25 well-nourished HD patients were enrolled in the study. Malnourished HD patients were prescribed Renilon 7.5 at an oral intake dose of 125 mL twice a day for 3 months. The nutritional status was characterized based on body mass index, Subjective Global Assessment score, serum albumin and prealbumin concentrations. The intensity of the inflammatory state was determined by C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. Serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were also measured.


RESULTS
After 3 months of supplementation, malnourished patients had an increase in prealbumin, albumin, and leptin concentrations. No statistically significant differences were observed between patients lacking inflammation and those with inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate an improvement in the nutritional status of HD patients who were prescribed an oral supplementation. Furthermore, patients with inflammatory state characteristics also benefited from Renilon 7.5 treatment.