Nephrology

Renal Nutrition & Metabolism

Diet and nutrition are important part of living well with kidney disease. Patients who are affected by kidney disease should be more concerned about their diet and should follow the special dietary plans. Diet plan will vary according to the stage of kidney disease. Dialysis clinic will have dieticians who can plan the diet of the patient. Dietician will give complete guidance about daily intake of food. Normal food plan is that: high intake of protein containing food, less salt, high phosphorous & potassium foods. They are also advised to take safe fluid intake levels. This is because extra fluid can increase blood pressure and make heart to work harder eventually increasing the stress of dialysis treatment. More amount of sodium (salt) can make thirsty and intake of fluid will be more. Foods like banana, orange, potato and dried fruit must be avoided. Evaluation of food intake, particularly protein intake is monitored at a regular periodic interval to ensure the daily intake of protein which is important part for good quality of life. Since dialysis patient follow special diet plan, their diet may miss several vitamins. Dialysis also removes some vitamins from the body. The treating physician must prescribe vitamin tablets specially made for kidney disease patients.