Considerations in the nutritional management of patients with acute renal failure

Abstract

Despite improvements in medical and dialytic therapies, mortality rates for patients with complicated acute renal failure (ARF) remains tragically high-above 50%. Mortality rates also remain persistently high in patients with ARF and preexisting or hospital-acquired malnutrition. ARF causes significant changes in substrate utilization largely because of the metabolic consequences of acute uremia compounded by underlying stress from acute illness. Alterations in protein or amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism as well as fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance need to be considered when providing nutritional therapy in patients with ARF. Also, the degree of renal impairment, which influences the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), impacts nutritional requirements. As medical management is becoming highly aggressive in treating ARF with RRT, the ability to provide adequate nutrition is enhanced; however, no consensus on optimal caloric and macro-/micronutrient requirements is available. More current research is required to clarify nutritional needs of this patient population. Nevertheless, individualizing nutrition care and integrating nutritional therapies within a team setting is essential in providing optimal patient care in the presence of ARF.