By Isabelle Guindon, RD
You may wonder, what is malnutrition? In general, most of us will think of malnutrition as a serious condition that affects those that are not able to eat enough food, either due to poor appetite, trouble accessing food or certain diseases. But did you know that malnutrition can be common in those affected by chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease? In both adults and children with chronic kidney disease, malnutrition can be a common concern. In fact, studies show that malnutrition may affect up to 50% of people with CKD!
So why is malnutrition so common in those with CKD? It can be related to many factors, including poor appetite or not feeling well as a direct result of the disease or treatments (like dialysis or medication side-effects), increased inflammation and changes to metabolism, increased losses of nutrients through dialysis and very high nutrition requirements that can be hard to meet through typical intake.
In adults, malnutrition may look like unintentional weight loss, decreased energy levels, getting sick more often or having trouble concentrating. In children, we can also see poor growth. Studies have also shown that malnutrition can lead to a faster decline in kidney function over time. While this may sound concerning, the good news is that there is a lot that can be done to help prevent or correct malnutrition and maintain good nutrition! Studies show that good nutrition is helpful in slowing the progression of kidney disease and preventing the development of other conditions associated with kidney disease.
Here are a few practical tips that you can use to help prevent malnutrition:
- Your Dietitian is your friend!
Working with a Registered Dietitian specializing in nutrition for those with CKD can be very valuable in maintaining good nutrition. They can work with you one-on-one to address any specific concerns related to your nutrition and can give easy and practical tips to help optimize your nutrition. Working with a dietitian is a great way to ensure you’re eating in a way that is good for your kidneys, while making sure that eating is a fun and enjoyable experience, as it should be!
- Check-in with your Doctor or Dietitian about whether you need any supplements
Sometimes people with CKD are at higher risk of vitamin or mineral deficiencies, either through increased losses through dialysis, or decreased intake of some of these related to poor appetite/eating less. Some nutrients, like vitamin D, can also be harder to get through our diet even without CKD. Check in with your Doctor or renal Dietitian to see whether they recommend taking any vitamin or mineral supplements to help maintain healthy levels of these in your body.
- Make every bite count!
If your appetite is poor or you are losing weight without meaning to, one of the best things you can do is make sure that what you are eating provides as much nutrition as possible. Your renal Dietitian can give you some practical tips to modify the foods you already enjoy, making them more nutrient-dense. For example, you can try adding calories to meals by adding a source of fat (such as butter or oil) to the foods you are cooking. This will help you get the most out of your food when you are having a hard time meeting your nutritional needs through what you are eating.
- Try out nutritional drinks and shakes for an extra boost of nutrition
Sometimes your Doctor or Dietitian may recommend a special nutritional drink (sometimes known as a meal replacement drink, or oral nutrition supplement) that is formulated for those with CKD to help give you some extra nutrition. These can be particularly helpful if you are losing weight without meaning to, if your appetite is poor or if you are feeling unwell. If you don’t like to drink these supplements, you can also incorporate these supplement drinks into different recipes, such as the one at the end of this article.
While making sure you are getting enough nutrition while you are managing the various challenges of living with CKD may seem daunting at first, by implementing some of these tips, you are well on your way to ensuring your body is getting the nutrition it needs, both for the health of your kidneys and your overall well-being!