Nutrition News

For patients with kidney disease not yet on dialysis, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation led to improvements in pulse wave velocity and serum triglyceride levels, suggesting that daily use could reduce risk for cardiovascular events.

Adults who receive maintenance hemodialysis 2 or more times per week expressed interest in an online patient community that includes access to a registered dietitian, according to survey results.

For patients with chronic kidney disease or on dialysis, plant-based diets have been viewed as second rate to animal protein. It was believed that plant-based diets would cause phosphorus and potassium levels to rise and plant proteins could not meet the needs of the patient with kidney disease.

Researchers from Turkey have identified a link between reduced muscle mass, as measured by hand grip strength, and malnutrition in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

Patients on peritoneal dialysis who received daily probiotic supplementation saw improvements in measures related to malnutrition and health-related quality of life, according to results of a randomized controlled trial conducted in China.

Older white women who consumed higher quantities of plant-based proteins had a slower yearly decline in eGFR, according to a study conducted in Australia.

While the consumption of greater quantities of red meat was associated with a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease, researchers from Iran suggest that making substitutions with other sources of dietary protein may reduce the risk.

A study from the Netherlands indicated higher consumption of salt was associated with accelerated disease progression for patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. This effect was not seen with higher protein intake.

Improvement in aerobic capacity led to a greater percentage of weight loss in select populations, according to data scheduled to be presented at the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting.

Fresenius Medical Care North America has donated $250,000 to the Food is Medicine Coalition, an act which the company hopes will help ensure patients with kidney failure receive adequate nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.