RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a nutritional formula enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in tube-fed bedridden hemodialysis patients. DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm study. SETTING: Koyukai Memorial Hospital, Orimoto Hospital, and Chofu Hospital, Japan. SUBJECTS: Eleven tube-fed bedridden hemodialysis patients. INTERVENTION: Patients were fed a nutritional formula enriched with EPA and DHA for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body weight; body mass index (BMI); serum levels of total protein, albumin, prealbumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and C-reactive protein (CRP); serum fatty acid composition. RESULTS: Body weight; BMI; and serum levels of total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and CRP at 12 weeks were not significantly different from baseline levels. Serum prealbumin, EPA, and DHA levels significantly increased after 12 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A nutritional formula enriched with EPA and DHA may be beneficial for nutritional management in tube-fed bedridden hemodialysis patients.
