Condition Driven: Kidney Disease
Patients with chronic kidney disease have specialized needs – and they look to you and your health care colleagues for nutritional support that is specialized, too.
The Need for Proper Nutrition for People with Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on dialysis, are at risk for malnutrition or protein-energy wasting (PEW). PEW is a strong risk factor for adverse outcomes and mortality. Evidence indicates that markers of PEW, such as low serum albumin level or inadequate protein intake, correlate with mortality. Approximately two thirds of all people on dialysis in the US have hypoalbuminemia, a serum albumin level of <4.0 mg/dl. Improving nutritional status by dietary and nondietary interventions is an important step toward improving outcomes in these patients.1
Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Your Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
The recommended energy and protein intakes for people on dialysis are high, and many people are not meeting the recommendations. Along with the needs for additional energy and protein, people on dialysis need to limit their intake of dietary potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Renal Specific Oral Nutritional Supplementation [RS-ONS] given to people on dialysis can help provide the required energy and protein, has also been shown to lower mortality,1 improve serum albumin levels,1, 2 and improve nutritional status.2
Professional Tools & Resources
Therapeutic effects of oral nutritional supplementation during hemodialysis
Oral nutritional supplementation (Nepro®) given during dialysis over a 6-month period can significantly improve nutritional parameters in malnourished hemodialysis patients.
Nutrition intervention is effective in mitigating protein-energy wasting (PEW) and improving outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease
Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease who are at nutritional risk should receive a renal-specific oral nutritional supplement 1-2 times per day to improve outcomes.
Long-term oral nutrition supplementation improves outcomes in malnourished patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis Sezer Knowledge Ladder
Consuming 2-3 servings of RS-ONS daily at home was shown to improve serum albumin levels and maintain anthropometric parameters in malnourished patients with CKD on hemodialysis compared to increased dietary intake.
Patient Resources
Patient Grocery and Shopping List
Grocery list suggestions for people on Dialysis
Potassium Education
Potassium is a mineral found in many fruits and vegetables, and it helps your nerves, muscles, and heart work properly. For people with CKD, the kidneys can no longer remove excess potassium, so high levels can build up in the blood, leading to nausea, weakness, irregular heartbeat, and even heart failure. So it’s important to control the amount of high-potassium foods you eat.
Protein Education
Protein is used by the body for building, repairing, and maintaining body tissues. You need extra protein because some of it is lost during dialysis. It’s important for you to choose foods that are high in protein but lower in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus.
Sodium Education
Food usually contains more sodium than the body needs, and too much can be harmful for people with CKD. Sodium causes fluid to build up in your body and leads to many problems like raising blood pressure, swelling, and putting a strain on your heart and kidneys.