Abstract
The influence of pre-hemodialysis (HD) ingestion of mandarin orange on the pre- and post-HD serum potassium (K) -level and the amount of K removal by HD were studied in order to allow chronic-HD patients to consume K-rich foods safely. Thirteen patients (six males and seven females ; 59.3±12.6 years old) with pre-HD serum K levels ≤ 6.0mEq/L in the last three months were included in the following study. In a typical HD treatment, electrolyte measurements were obtained from pre- and post-HD blood samples and dialysates. In another treatment, the patients were requested to eat five pieces from a medium-sized mandarin orange (0.5~0.55kg total weight and about 15mEq K-load) shortly before starting HD and the same measurements were obtained. Pre- and post-HD serum K-levels for the standard HD treatment were 4.8±0.5mEq/L and 3.3±0.4mEq/L, respectively. Patients who ingested mandarin orange measured 5.0±0.6mEq/L and 3.3±0.3mEq/L, respectively. The amounts of K removed by HD were 44.9±9.5mEq in the typical HD treatment and 51.5±9.6mEq where mandarin orange was eaten. The post-HD difference in the K-level indicates that 44% of the K-load from eating mandarin orange was removed by HD. These findings indicate that approximately five pieces of medium-sized mandarin orange can be safely eaten shortly before HD by patients whose pre-HD serum K-level is ≤ 6.0mEq/L.
