Effect of Defined Caloric Supplementation on Growth of Children With Renal Disease

Abstract

The energy requirement of children with renal disease is unknown. Diets providing calories based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance for chronological age may or may not support normal growth in children with renal disease. Caloric needs were determined by indirect calorimetry in five children with renal disease. These children were then maintained on diets, supplemented with oral glucose polymers, designed to meet their measured energy requirements. After an average of 12.6 months on the study diet, four of five subjects exhibited catch-up growth as measured by a positive change in height and/or weight z scores. Despite caloric supplementation, not one subject exhibited increased percent body fat; increases in body weight consisted of both lean body mass and body fat. Variation in disease activity may also effect growth in children with renal disease. The energy requirement of children with renal disease is unknown. Diets providing calories based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance for chronological age may or may not support normal growth in children with renal disease. Caloric needs were determined by indirect calorimetry in five children with renal disease. These children were then maintained on diets, supplemented with oral glucose polymers, designed to meet their measured energy requirements. After an average of 12.6 months on the study diet, four of five subjects exhibited catch-up growth as measured by a positive change in height and/or weight z scores. Despite caloric supplementation, not one subject exhibited increased percent body fat; increases in body weight consisted of both lean body mass and body fat. Variation in disease activity may also effect growth in children with renal disease.