Response to an Oral Nutritional Supplement for Chronic Renal Failure Patients

■ Objective: To compare biochemical responses, nutrient intake, formula acceptability, and gastrointestinal tolerance during oral supplementation of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients using two medical nutritional products. ■ Design: Prospective, randomized, two-group, unblinded, parallel design. ■ Setting: Two university-affiliated hospitals. ■ Patients: Eighteen CRF patients (4 caucasian/14 African-American; 5 female/13 male) at risk for malnutrition but without evidence of abnormal nutrient metabolism. ■ Intervention: Oral supplementation using either clinical product EN-8915 or Polycose Glucose Polymers (Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH) for 4 weeks at a rate of 10 kcal/kg · d⁻¹. ■ Main outcome measures: Blood chemistries, self-reported nutrient intake and gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance, and sensory evaluation data. ■ Results: Both products increased energy intake by approximately 10 kcal/kg · d⁻¹ without influencing gastrointestinal tolerance during 4 weeks of oral supplementation. Protein, vitamin, and mineral intakes were higher in patients ingesting the clinical product than Polycose. Blood chemistries were unchanged. ■ Conclusion: Short-term oral supplementation with either clinical product EN-8915 (a similar product is now marketed as Suplena Specialized Liquid Nutrition) or Polycose effectively increased energy intake. GI tolerance was excellent for both products.