Isometric Resistance Training and Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation Can Improve Dialysis Adequacy: A Clinical Trial

Background: The effectiveness of dialysis or dialysis adequacy is an important standard for evaluating hemodialysis patients. Also, measuring this standard is a crucial goal to all healthcare teams. Inadequate protein intake and catabolism can impact dialysis efficacy. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of intradialytic isometric resistance exercise and supplementation with BCAAs on dialysis adequacy in patients undergoing dialysis. Methods: A total of 51 patients were randomly divided into three control, exercise and BCAA (EXBCAA), and exercise only (EX) groups and the number of the subjects in each group was 17 patients. The training program consisted of an exercise for arm muscles and another exercise for thigh and core muscles. Exercise sessions were conducted twice a week for two months (24 sessions). Dialysis adequacy variables were kt/v and URR and were measured before the intervention, four weeks after the start of the intervention, and again at eight weeks, which was the end point of the intervention. Results: After the intervention, the kt/V and URR variables presented a significant difference between the two experimental groups vs the control group (P < 0.001). The group that received BCAA and performed isometric resistance exercise indicated the most effective improvements in kt/v (+20%) and URR (+12.5%). Conclusions: Results of this study showed that exercise during hemodialysis can increase dialysis adequacy of hemodialysis patients. Receiving BCAA’s can improve the adequacy even more.