Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy

Abstract

Consumption of Protein Enriched Yogurt for Nutritional Status Improvement in Patients Treated with Hemodialysis

Dror Ben Noach, Ayelet Grupper, Limor Ben Haim, Doron Schwartz, Ronit Anbar and Orit Kliuk Ben Bassat*

Background: Protein Energy Wasting (PEW) is highly prevalent among dialysis patients, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Protein enriched dairy products may provide a feasible nutritional intervention to overcome the discrepancy between protein requirement and intake. We investigated the impact of an additional daily protein enriched yogurt on nutritional parameters in Hemodialysis (HD) patients with hypoalbuminemia.

Methods: A prospective, single center, cross-over pilot study. Patients treated with HD and hypoalbuminemia, defined as blood albumin below 38 g/L, were considered eligible. After enrollment, all patients started a 4-months control period of strict dietitian surveillance followed by 4-months intervention period that consisted of an additional 20 g protein-enriched yogurt daily. Primary endpoint was increase in protein intake measured by normalized Protein Catabolic Rate (nPCR).

Results: Ten hemodialysis patients were recruited. Mean albumin at baseline was 35 g/dL. Seven patients entered control period, 5 started intervention. Four patients completed intervention period. There was no difference in nPCR between screening to control or intervention period (mean nPCR 1.06, 1.10 and 1.26 in screening, control and intervention period respectively, p=0.273). Albumin level significantly increased from screening (34.5 g/L) to end of control period (38 g/L), p=0.012; with no further increase at the end of intervention period (36.35 g/L, p=0.196 between intervention and control period). The yogurt was well tolerated.

Conclusion: Protein enriched yogurt did not increase nPCR in a limited cohort of dialysis patients with hypoalbuminemia, however it was well tolerated. Larger-scale studies may provide more information about its role in PEW management in this patient population.

Published Date: 2024-10-04; Received Date: 2024-09-04