Abstract

Introduction Protein-energy malnutrition is one of the main problems and presents a multifactorial cause in peritoneal dialysis patients. Objective To evaluate the effects of two types of protein supplementation in patients with peritoneal dialysis, in order to reduce the nutritional risk of these individuals. Methods This was a longitudinal clinical study of 26 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis and presented nutritional risk according to serum albumin values, considering a reference of 3.6 g/dL. Before starting the intervention, the subjects were submitted to nutritional assessment, which was composed of albumin dosage, the application of the 7-point Subjective Global Assessment (AGS-7 points) and the anthropometric measurements of height, post-dialysis weight and Waist Circumference (WC), to calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-to-Length Relation (WL). Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, one of which received 10 g of whey protein supplement and the other group received 10 g of albumin supplementation during 30 days. Results The initial protein intake data showed that the mean daily intake and the standard deviation were equivalent to 0.8 ± 0.3 grams per kilo of body weight. Initial serum albumin values were not associated with protein consumption. There was a significant increase in the mean value of albumin after supplementation (p = 0.0344). The albumin supplement was superior to whey protein. Initial values of albumin showed a statistically significant negative association with WC and WL (r = -0.47, p = 0.0254 for albumin and WC, (r = -0.49, p = 0.02) for albumin and WL). Conclusion Protein supplementation promoted an increase in serum albumin levels and this marker was inversely associated with age and abdominal adiposity. The absence of correlation between energy and protein intake with the initial values of albumin generates the need for investigations to clarify if the adequacy of food consumption is able to normalize the concentrations of this protein, or if supplementation is still necessary.

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