ABSTRACT
Malnutrition is a common problem in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and compromised food intake is an important cause. Malnutrition is one of the important factors influencing mortality in these patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education at improving nutritional status of 23 Korean HD patients (mean : 48.6 +/- 10.4 years, men : 8, women : 15). Anthropometric indices, nutrient intakes, and biochemical blood indices were measured before and after a 6-month nutrition education intervention. Anthropometric indices such as percent ideal body weight [PIBW (%)], body fat, body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), and calculated arm muscle area (CAMA) of subjects were within the normal range and not changed by nutrition education. Subjective global assessment (SGA) was significantly increased (p<0.05) after nutrition education. Intake of total energy, carbohydrate, lipid, Ca, and vitamin B1 was increased significantly (p<0.05) but intake of phosphorus, potassium, and sodium was decreased (p<0.05). The serum concentrations of albumin, total protein, and Ca were significantly increased (p<0.05), but levels of P and K were decreased (p<0.05) after the intervention. These findings suggest that nutrition education for HD patients can be effective for positively changing nutrient intakes, leading to improvements in blood indices and nutritional status.