Medical Nutrition Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease Improves Biomarkers and Slows Time to Dialysis.

Objective: To investigate whether medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided by a registered dietitian experienced in chronic kidney disease (CKD) slows the progression of disease and improves nutrition-related biomarkers.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Subjects: The cohort included 265 participants from a regional nephrology center in a rural state; 147 of who received MNT were compared to a group that did not receive MNT and had started dialysis over a 10-year period.

Intervention: MNT by a registered dietitian with expertise in CKD.

Main Outcome Measure: Average time to dialysis, based on stage of CKD at baseline, was compared between groups. In addition, the effect of MNT on the change in biochemical measures for estimated glomerular filtration rate, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, CKD Mineral and Bone Disorder (MBD) markers (phosphorous, calcium, and intact parathyroid hormone) at baseline and at follow-up (dialysis initiation or most recent laboratories if dialysis was not started) was assessed.

Results: MNT group had less of a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate than the non-MNT group (0.3 vs. 9.9 mL/minute/1.73 m(2), respectively) a mean difference of 9.6 (P < 0.001). When adjusted for stage using linear regression, the mean difference was greater (11.4, P < .001). Using survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression, the non-MNT group was 3.15 more likely to initiate dialysis. Stratified by Stages 3 and 4 that hazard ratio increased (3.47 and 3.45, respectively). Albumin and markers of CKD-MBD were more likely to be within normal limits in the MNT group. The results indicate that better outcomes occur when MNT is given at CKD Stage 3 or 4 rather than CKD Stage 5.

Conclusions: Results suggest that people with CKD who received MNT were less likely to start dialysis and had improved nutritional biomarkers than participants who did not receive MNT.