Influence of low-protein dietetic foods consumption on quality of life and levels of B vitamins and homocysteine in patients with chronic renal failure

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether the consumption of low protein dietetic foods® improved the quality of life and nutritional status for vit- amins B and homocysteine in patients with chronic renal failure. Methodology: This nutritional-intervention involved 28 men and 21 women, divided into two groups. The con- trol-group consumed a low-protein diet prescribed, and the experimental-group consumed a diet in which some commonly used foods were replaced by low-protein dietetic foods. The study lasted 6 months. Food consump- tion was assessed by 24-h recall. Vitamin B 6 as αEAST was measured in blood. Creatinine, urea, vitamin B 12 , folate and homocysteine were measured in plasma. The impact on the patients' quality of life from consuming the dietetic foods was assessed via the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: After 6 months, the protein intake among the experimental-group had decreased by 40%, and the urea/creatinine ratio and αEAST activity were also lower. The results of the SF-36 questionnaire show that the patients in the experimental-group obtained higher scores in the categories of general health and physical status. Conclusions: The dietetic foods were very well accepted by all patients and their use allowed a better control of the protein intake, improved B 6 status and a better quality of life.