ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-OR045

Amino Acid Composition and Dietary-Induced Changes in Patients with CKD

Session Information

Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

  • 1500 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Authors

  • Kim, So Mi, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Lee, Eun Kyoung, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Lee, Hwa Young, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Jang, Youngjoo, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Yi, Yongjin, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (the Republic of)
Background

Protein restriction is commonly recommended for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but limited research has examined amino acid profiles in these patients. This study aimed to investigate the basic amino acid composition in CKD patients and the changes in amino acids resulting from dietary modifications.

Methods

In this prospective randomized trial, 52 CKD patients were enrolled. 26 received a CKD-specific meal, and 26 received dietary education only. Amino acid levels were measured at baseline and after 56 days.

Results

A total of 45 patients completed the study. At baseline, deficiencies in essential amino acids were observed: histidine (56%), tryptophan (43.3%), isoleucine (8.3%), and lysine (3.3%). Non-essential amino acid deficiencies included tyrosine (13.3%), taurine (8.3%), and serine (6.7%). After 56 days, the CKD-specific meal group showed increases in all essential amino acids except tryptophan, and in all non-essential amino acids except tyrosine, compared to the education group. Glutamine and serine showed statistically significant improvements (Table 1).

Conclusion

Our study showed that the protein-restricted CKD-specific meal, designed according to guidelines, is more effective than dietary education alone in preventing amino acid deficiencies and promoting their increase. Further discussion is needed regarding the characteristics of each amino acid, and the relevance of CKD-specific diets and their efficacy.

Table 1. Changes in amino acid levels according to CKD diet in patients with CKD
 Education-only
group
CKD-specific meal groupP-value
Essential amino acids   
Leucine10.81±30.242.55±29.610.141
Isoleucine-12.28±24.33-5.30±17.590.279
Valine-2.15±43.5115.76±48.450.198
Lysine4.13±41.0917.96±54.450.343
Treonine7.13±25.598.28±35.960.902
Tryptophan0.72±10.41-2.90±14.840.350
Histidine1.74±7.649.92±10.510.059
Non-essential amino acids   
Alanine9.93±103.4255.21±133.490.212
Glutamic acid-1.17±26.720.51±27.640.836
Glutamine34.48±60.1280.24±65.460.019
Serine2.42±21.5419.34±23.100.015
Tyrosine2.15±10.461.09±14.040.774

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)