Low protein/high calorie dietary regimen in the management of chronic renal failure. A preliminary study of Nigerian patients.

The progression of renal failure was evaluated in seven patients with established chronic renal failure (mean serum creatinine 4.17 mg%), while on a supervised dietary regimen consisting of low protein of high biological value (20-30 g/day), and a high calorie content (3000 kcal/day) for a period of between 18 and 28 months. Five other patients with a comparable degree of chronic renal failure whose protein intake was unrestricted (evaluated to vary between 40 and 60 g per day) served as controls. In the study group, serum creatinine levels stabilized or improved in five, while a moderate rise was observed in two. In contrast, a considerable and significant rise in serum creatinine values was observed in all the controls. Two significantly different slopes (P less than 0.01) were also obtained from the linear regression analysis of the reciprocal of serum creatinine values against time, for the two groups. Our preliminary observation of a beneficial effect of this regimen in our patients is particularly relevant to the developing countries because of the high prevalence of chronic renal failure against the background of grossly inadequate facilities for maintenance dialysis or renal transplantation.