Double-blind cross-over study with oral α-ketoacids in patients with chronic renal failure

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 1678 - 1681
• Main Authors: Hecking, E, Andrzejewski, L, Prellwitz, W, Opferkuch, W, Müller, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-07-1980
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Proteins - analysis; Clinical Trials as Topic; Creatinine - blood; Diet; diet therapy; dietary supplements; Double-Blind Method; Electrolytes - blood; Female; Humans; Keto acid analogues; Keto Acids - therapeutic use; Kidney Failure, Chronic - blood; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; kwashiorkor; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphates - blood; phosphorus; Placebos; protein modified diets; renal failure
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/33.7.1678

In 15 ambulatory patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance, 9.9 ± 3.0 ml/min) the effect of oral supplementation with α-ketoacids has been compared with that of placebo. The protein intake amounted to 0.55 g protein per kilogram body weight of high biological value, as estimated by dietary recordings. After a control period of 3 months the patients received, in a double-blind study, 1.05 g α-ketoacids/10 kg body weight per day or a placebo for 6 weeks with a subsequent cross-over. Fasting blood samples were analyzed at 3-week intervals for routine laboratory parameters and 17 proteins. Anthropometric and clinical data have been recorded every 3 weeks. While therapy with α-ketoacids diminished PO4 levels (P < 0.05), no other significant effect could be demonstrated. No signs of protein deficiency existed either before or during α-ketoacid therapy. Therefore, supplementation with α-ketoacids appears to be superfluous in patients with renal insufficiency maintained on a 40-g protein diet.