[Effect of keto analogs of essential amino acids on the progress of advanced chronic renal insufficiency: controlled prospective study].

We prospectively compared the efficacy and tolerance of a very low protein intake (0.4 g/kg/day) supplemented with keto analogues of essential amino acids and of the standard low protein diet (0.6 g/kg/day) in 19 patients with advanced chronic renal failure (mean plasma creatinine level: 726 +/- 113 mumol/l), who were randomly assigned to either treatment. Long term acceptability was similarly good in both groups and no biochemical or morphometric sign of denutrition was observed in neither group, whereas the mean renal survival duration until dialysis was longer, and the mean slope of 1/Cr was lower in patients treated with keto analogues. We suggest that ketoacid treatment is more effective than protein restriction alone in slowing the progression of advanced chronic renal failure.