American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 21, 508-515, Copyright © 1968 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Protein Nutrition in Uremia: A Review

¹ From the Medical and Research Service, Veterans Administration Center, and Department of Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

In reviewing the history of dietary management in uremia, it is apparent that significant advances have occured in the past few years. Basic nutritional facts have been synthesized into a significant clinical application. Increasing understanding of amino acid requirements and the possibility of resynthesis of nonessential amino acids from urea nitrogen at the clinical level has resulted in the development of a therapeutic, strictly nutritional, approach to the uremic patient. This new approach is based on more scientific data than was available formerly. Encouraging preliminary results suggest that current concepts of protein nutrition with appropriate development may prove of significant benefit both to uremic patients, not yet in need of chronic dialysis or renal transplantation, and to those for whom these more definitive forms of treatment are not yet available for logistical reasons. The opportunity for nutritionists and nephrologists to combine their skills in this area should result in a fruitful application of "clinical nutrition" in its truest sense.