Abstract
BACKGROUND: We used evidence-based medicine to suggest guidelines of nutritional support for Taiwanese patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: Our panel reviewed the medical literature in group meetings to reach a consensus on answering clinical questions related to the effects of the nutritional status, energy/protein intake recommendations, timing of enteral, and parenteral nutrition supplementation. RESULTS: Markers of the nutritional status of serum albumin, protein intake, and nitrogen balance had positive relationships with low mortality. A forest plot of the comparison of mortality between a body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 and ≥18.5 kg/m2 was produced using data from seven observational studies which showed that a lower BMI was associated with higher mortality. The energy recommendation of 20-30 kcal/kg body weight (BW)/day was determined to be valid for all stages of AKI. The protein recommendation for noncatabolic AKI patients is 0.8-1.0 g/kg BW/day, and 1.2-2.0 g/kg BW/day is the same as that for the underlying disease that is causing AKI. Protein intake should be at least 1.5 g/kg BW/day and up to 2.5 g/kg BW/day in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy. Considering that patients with AKI often have other critical comorbid situations, early enteral nutrition (EN) is suggested, and parenteral nutrition is needed when >60% energy and protein requirements cannot be met via the enteral route in 7-10 days. Low energy intake is suggested in critically ill patients with AKI, which should gradually be increased to meet 80%-100% of the energy target. CONCLUSION: By examining evidence-based research, we provide practicable nutritional guidelines for AKI patients.