Abstract
The nutritional effect of microencapsulated bifidobacterium on hemodialysis patients was evaluated.
The subjects were 20 hemodialysis patients. The mean age was 56.1±11.8 (mean±standard deviation) years old and mean period on dialysis was 6.5±4.5 years. After restriction of oral lactobacilli products for 2 weeks, the patients were given 0.9g/day microencapsulated bifidobacterium orally for 4 weeks. Then, the same regimen was given for 20 weeks without restricting oral lactobacilli products.
Bowel movement and the related symptoms were recorded. Protein catabolic rate (PCR), Kt/V, time averaged concentration of blood urea nitrogen (TACBUN), oral sodium, potassium, energy intake, serum creatinine, serum albumin and total cholesterol were analyzed before, and on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 24th week after initiating oral intake of microencapsulated bifidobacterium.
PCR, TACBUN and energy intake were increased at the 2nd and the 24th weeks significantly in comparing with their baseline values. Bowel movement and the related symptom scores gradually improved. Other nutritional markers such as serum albumin, total protein and total cholesterol were unchanged.
It is suggested that oral intake of microencapsulated bifidobacterium may contribute in improving the nutritional status of the hemodialysis patients. Further investigations involving a large-scale study are needed.
