Update on Nutrition and Chronic Kidney Disease

Update on Nutrition and Chronic Kidney Disease
Posted 07/25/2007
Matthew D. Beekley, PhD
Medscape Today

Introduction
Management of the nutritional aspects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents a number of challenges. Malnutrition can occur in up 40% of patients with renal failure and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Because a number of other confounding diseases are usually associated with CKD (such as diabetes), nutritional treatment of these patients can be particularly difficult.

Many physicians adhere to the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI), an ongoing, continuous initiative to develop consensus practice standards. Note that these are guidelines, not standards of care. Some of the guidelines, for instance, are based on expert opinions for treatment and not necessarily on the scientific evidence (notably because the scientific evidence is lacking). However, the guidelines themselves carefully point out which treatment options are based on solid scientific evidence and which are based on a consensus expert opinion.

This column answers questions about nutrition and CKD to provide physicians with the knowledge they need to make informed management decisions.

A subscription may be required to view this article or This site offers a free registration to view the details.

Medscape Nephrology. 2007; ©2007 Medscape
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2009 by Medscape.