THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM LOW-PROTEIN DIET AND KETOSTERYL IN CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE (CRF)

Ten CRF patients (mean glomerular filtration rate 10.1 ml/min) were put on low-protein diet (0.3 g/kg protein daily) supplemented with ketosteryl (10-12 pills daily). During 3 out of 6-34 months of the diet azotemia declined: creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, phosphorus concentrations diminished by 5 %, 12 %, 10 % and 17 %, respectively. Further accumulation of nitrogen residues slowed down. Monthly increment of serum creatinine and hemoglobin loss rate reduced 2-fold. (from .0.23 to 0.117 mg % month and from 0.16 to 0.08 g % month, respectively). Protein deficiency did not occur as serum albumin and body mass remained the same, whereas urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio showed a 35 % decrease. It is concluded that rigorous low-protein diet combined with ketoanalogues of essential amino acids is able to abate uremia and inhibit CRF augmentation.