Management of protein and energy intake in dialysis patients.

Malnutrition is not uncommon in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with maintenance dialysis. The presence of several abnormal parameters of nutritional status are reported to be predictive of poorer outcomes in these patients, compared to dialysis patients without evidence of malnutrition. This article describes methods that may be used to recognize the presence of malnutrition in end-stage renal disease patients and the management of protein and energy intake. Whether the correction of malnutrition will improve outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality, is unknown.