Nutrition counseling impacts serum albumin levels.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the difference in the rate of change of serum albumin levels between protein-energy malnourished patients who receive intensive dietary counseling and patients who receive a special oral liquid nutritional supplement (Nepro; Ross Products, Division Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH).

DESIGN:

Participants with serum albumin values < or =3.5 g/dL (bromocresol green) or 3.2 g/dL (bromocresol purple) and a Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) Malnutrition score < or =23.5 were randomized to the supplement group (Nepro) or the nonsupplement group with intensive dietary counseling.

PATIENTS:

Forty-one hemodialysis patients 18 years and older who had been on dialysis for at least 6 months.

INTERVENTION:

Participants were randomly assigned to supplement (26) or nonsupplement (14) groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Albumin levels.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED:

Analysis of variance and chi2 tests, linear regression.

RESULTS:

After adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, the rate of change in serum albumin level was significantly greater among patients randomized to dietary counseling alone than among those who received oral supplements. These preliminary results suggest that intensive nutritional counseling may be of greater benefit than nutritional supplements alone in the management of protein-energy malnutrition in patients on hemodialysis. These preliminary findings should be confirmed by a larger full-scale trial.

• Authors: Lillie Akpele, James Lynch Bailey
• Journal: Journal of renal nutrition : the official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation (J Ren Nutr) Vol. 14 Issue 3 Pg. 143-8 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 1532-8503 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 15232792 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Serum Albumin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Counseling
• Dietary Services
• Dietary Supplements
• Humans
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (blood, complications, therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (blood, complications, prevention & control)
• Renal Dialysis
• Serum Albumin (analysis)