The opinion of patients with chronic renal disease on low-protein foods

Abstract

Nutritional support of the patient with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) in conservative treatment allows to prevent/control the main metabolic disease as well as to achieve and/or maintain a satisfactory nutritional status postponing replacement therapy (dialysis or transplantation). When the low-protein diet requires the introduction of special low-protein foods, the dietitian must maintain a particularly close monitoring. This study evaluated the satisfaction with low-protein foods in a sample of 100 patients with CRF related to our Unit of Dietetics in the years 2009–2012, and compared it with that found in a similar study carried out in 2008–2009. The median age of the subjects involved was 65 years (range 17–88 years), with a predominance of males (57%). Overall, 88% of the patients were treated conservatively and 12% with substitution treatment (10% with dialysis and 2% with transplantation). All patients were treated with a low-protein diet with 0.6 or 0.8 g of protein/kg ideal body weight/day. Only 6% of patients defined as “nothing” or “poor” the replaceability of the normal products with the low-protein products. Compared to the previous study, we found an increase in the consumption of bread and substitutes associated with greater liking. Despite the variety and quality of low-protein products has sharply increased over the years, their inclusion in the dietary pattern is one of the factors that most influences the concordance to the dietary treatment. In relation to the needs of our users, we added to the study a revision of the regional regulations regarding the provision of low-protein products, as these showed a marked heterogeneity across the country. (nursing)