Enteral nutrition (EN) by means of oral nutritional supplements (ONS)
and tube feeding (TF) offers the possibility of increasing or ensuring nutrient intake
in cases where normal food intake is inadequate. These guidelines are intended to
give evidence-based recommendations for the use of ONS and TF in nephrology
patients. They were developed by an interdisciplinary expert group in accordance
with officially accepted standards and are based on all relevant publications since
1985. They were discussed and accepted in a consensus conference.
Because of the nutritional impact of renal diseases, EN is widely used in nephrology
practice. Patients with acute renal failure (ARF) and critical illness are characterized
by a highly catabolic state and need depurative techniques inducing massive nutrient
loss. EN by TF is the preferred route for nutritional support in these patients. EN by
means of ONS is the preferred way of refeeding for depleted conservatively treated
chronic renal failure patients and dialysis patients. Undernutrition is an independent factor of survival in dialysis patients. ONS was shown to improve nutritional status in
this setting. An increase in survival has been recently reported when nutritional status
was improved by ONS.
