Nutrition News

Blood trace element levels, specifically copper, zinc and selenium, showed associations with nutritional risk for patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in China.

A conservative weight loss program was effective for a “small proportion” of kidney transplant candidates with obesity, namely those who had a lower BMI at baseline.

After attending classes led by a nurse practitioner, patients with chronic kidney disease – 89% of whom were food insecure – showed improved knowledge on disease management, specifically as it relates to sodium intake and hypertension.

A retrospective cohort study published in Kidney Medicine identified an association between higher BMI and a greater risk of developing “a low serum bicarbonate,” an identifier for metabolic acidosis.

A cohort study of 27,271 participants with and without reduced kidney function identified a link between healthy lifestyle behaviors and reduced risk of mortality, heart disease, coronary events and strokes.

For patients on hemodialysis, a mindfulness-based intervention aimed at helping patients adhere to fluid restrictions did not lead to improvements in interdialytic weight gain or quality of life.

Although most insurance providers, including Medicare and private insurers, cover medical nutrition therapy for individuals with chronic kidney disease, few patients ever meet with a registered dietician.

Participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, had higher caloric intake than non-participants, according to a study of patients with kidney disease, some of whom also reported food insecurity.

Nephrology professionals may not routinely recommend plant-based diets to patients with kidney disease due to concerns over patient acceptance and their ability to follow the diet plan, according to survey results.

A review of randomized control trials demonstrated that dietary fiber supplementation reduced the levels of uremic toxins in patients with kidney disease, most notably for those who received dialysis or who did not also have diabetes.