The impact of a nutritional intervention based on egg white for phosphorus control in hemodialyis patients.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Here we describe a dietary intervention for hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients based on the partial replacement of meat and fish, which are one of the main sources of alimentary phosphorous, with egg white, a virtually phosphorous-free protein source. This intervention aims to reduce phosphorous intake without causing protein wasting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: As many as 23 hyperphosphatemic patients (15 male and 8 female, mean age 53.0 ± 10.0 years) on chronic standard 4 h, three times weekly, bicarbonate hemodialysis were enrolled in this open-label, randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group were instructed to replace fish or meat with egg white in three meals a week for three months whereas diet was unchanged in the control group. RESULTS: Serum phosphate concentrations were significantly lower in the intervention group than in controls after three (4.9 ± 1.0 vs 6.6 ± 0.8; p < 0.001) but not after one month of treatment. Phosphate concentrations decreased more from baseline in the intervention than in the control group both after one (-1,2 ± 1,1 vs 0,5 ± 1,1; p = 0.004) and after three (-1,7 ± 1,1 vs -0,6 ± 1,1; p < 0.001) months of follow-up. No change either in body weight or in body composition assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis or in serum albumin concentration was observed in either group. CONCLUSION: The partial replacement of meat and fish with egg white induces a significant decrease in serum phosphate without causing protein malnutrition and could represent a useful instrument to control serum phosphate levels in hemodialysis patients. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03236701.