Patients with stage 3 to 4 CKD prefer flexible, easy prebiotic, probiotic supplements
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Patients with stage 3 to 4 chronic kidney disease prefer prebiotic and probiotic supplements that are flexible and easily integrated into daily routines, according to data published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.
“Despite the growing interest and therapeutic potential of pre- and probiotics, clinical research in this area is in its infancy. In addition to exploring the clinical effectiveness of pre- and probiotic supplementation, it is also important to consider the patient perspective to improve efficiency and patient-centered care,” Catherine McFarlane, PhD candidate from the department of nutrition and dietetics at Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Australia, and colleagues wrote. “Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore nutrition supplements, such as pre- and probiotics, in a CKD population and gauge perspectives on alternate strategies such as food fortification or establishing changes in dietary habits.”
In a semi-structured interview study, researchers evaluated adults with stage 3 or 4 CKD (mean age was 68 years) who received 12 months of prebiotic and probiotic intervention (n=15) or placebo (n=15). All patients were from the double-blinded, randomized controlled Synbiotics Easing Renal Failure by Improving Gut Microbiology II (SYNERGY II) trial.
Researchers interviewed all patients between January and March 2019. Questions focused on patients’ experiences with nutrition supplementation, motivation for participation, barriers and enablers to nutrition supplementation and future product formulation preferences. Interviews were based on the constructs of acceptability.
Researchers recorded, transcribed and used NVivo 12 software to thematically analyze data.
Among the 30 patients, the following five overall themes emerged from the analysis: integrating and sustaining routine supplementation; striving for health benefits; facilitating prebiotic and probiotic supplementation; empowering knowledge; and considerations for future use. Researchers concluded that ease of use, flexibility in prescription, perceived health benefits and safety were important factors when a patient with stage 3 or 4 CKD decides a supplement is acceptable.
“In summary, people with stage 3 to 4 CKD desired a pre- and probiotic supplement prescription that was flexible and integrated easily into their daily routines and emphasized that safety and perceived health benefits were important components to their utilization,” McFarlane and colleagues wrote. “Health care providers and researchers should consider the optimal method for delivery, health knowledge and individual preferences when recommending therapeutic pre- and probiotic supplementation or food fortification strategies.”
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