Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the impact of protein supplementation versus nutrition education/counselling on protein intakes (indexed by normalized protein catabolic rates (nPCR)) among persons on maintenance haemodialysis. METHODS: An intervention study design was employed in this investigation. Participating dialysis centers were randomly selected and persons attending those centers were invited to participate in the study. Participants had anthropometry and biochemical variables recorded at baseline and on two occasion 1 month apart during each of the interventions. Persons in the intervention group (IVG) received a supplement containing 36 grams of whey protein daily for 6 weeks in. Following a 2-week washout period, they received personalized weekly nutrition education/counselling for an additional 6 weeks. The control group (NIVG) did not receive any supplementation or nutrition education/counselling. Both groups received received the routine facility care. Participation was voluntary. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee, The University of The West Indies. RESULTS: Sixty-eight persons (IVG = 32; NIVG = 36) participated in the study. There was no significant difference in the mean nPCR between IVG and NIVG at baseline (0.84 ± 0.17 vs. 0.84 ± 0.17 mg/kg; P = 0.76). IVG had significantly higher mean nPCR than NIVG during protein supplementation (0.95 ± 0.21 vs. 0.78 ± 0.15 mg/kg; P < 0.001) and nutritional education/counselling (0.87 ± 0.17 vs. 0.79 ± 0.18 mg/kg; P = 0.02 phases of the study. Among IVG, protein supplementation (+Δ 12.8 ± 3.0 mg/kg (±S.E.) but not nutrition education/counselling (+Δ 2.8 ± 2.7 mg/kg; P = 0.32) resulted in a significant increase in mean nPCR compared to baseline.with no significant changes in biochemical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants nPCR increased significantly with protein supplementation but not nutrition education/counselling without adversely affecting biochemical variables. FUNDING SOURCES: Grant and Publication Fund, The University of The West Indies.