Dietary protein intake less than 1.2 g/kg/day benefits chinese maintenance hemodialysis patients

The K/DOQI guidelines recommend that MHD patients have a dietary protein intake (DPI) of at least 1.2 g/ kg/day to avoid malnutrition. It is hard for most Chinese MHD patients to meet the criteria. To know the nutritional status and metabolic results of different DPI in our patients is necessary. Part 1: Cross–sectional study: 189 MHD patients using low-flux dialyzers were enrolled in April 2009 in our center. Three-day-dietary diaries were analyzed by dietitians. Serum cholesterol, albumin, calcium and phosphate and CO2CP (carbon dioxide combining power) were examined. The nPCR was used to assess the accuracy of DPI. Part 2: Pilot study: A two–year, non-randomized controlled trial was carried out. The inclusion criteria were (1) MHD>3 years and Kt/V>1.2; (2) no residual renal function; (3) Serum albumin>35 g/l; (4) CRP 90 g/l. Two groups were set: DPI>1.2 g/ kg/day ( NP group) and DPI