Can nephrotic patients achieve nitrogen balance on a low- protein diet?
Am Soc Nephrol J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Sep) 7:1322 1996 Nitrogen balance and whole body protein turnover was measured in five nephrotic patients and five control subjects who consumed a diet which provided 0.8 to 1.6 g protein per day under supervised conditions in a General Clinical Research center (GCRC). Nitrogen balance was positive in both nephrotic patients and control subjects regardless of the diet consumed. Rates of whole body protein synthesis and protein degradation did not differ between nephrotic and control subjects. Protein anabolism was secondary to a post- prandial stimulation of protein synthesis and inhibition of protein degradation. The major compensatory response to dietary protein restriction was a decrease in essential amino acid oxidation and this response was seen in both patients and controls. Comment: The conclusions of this study are, that both nephrotic patients and controls achieve nitrogen balance by similar mechanisms. Inadequate protein intake, rat
