The addition of ketoanalogues (KAs) to a low-protein diet has been shown to mitigate the progression of pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD). The addition of inulin and calcium citrate may add further benefits, given their nephroprotective effects. In this study, we tested the changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), CKD symptoms, body composition, and biochemical parameters after 6 months of diet supplementation with Cetolán III, a combination of KA, inulin, and calcium citrate. We included 76 adult patients diagnosed with CKD stages 3 and 4 and not treated with renal replacement therapy in a retrospective cohort. In this cohort, participants were followed through two clinic visits at 3 and 6 months after diet supplementation. We found a slight increase in eGFR at 3 and 6 months compared with baseline, as well as a decrease in the severity of CDK-related symptoms, fat mass, and muscle mass. We observed only a slight decrease in creatinine and uric acid after 6 months of follow-up. We did not find a remarkable change in anthropometric parameters (e.g., body mass index, waist circumference, and arm muscle area). This observational study suggests that addition of KA, inulin, and calcium citrate to a low protein- diet could be associated with an improvement in eGFR and symptom severity in CKD pre-dialysis.

Background: Keto analogues in combination with a (very) low-protein diet significantly reduces the progression to end-stage kidney disease. The question of their benefit and safety for kidney transplant recipients remains. This study aimed to show the renoprotective effect and safety of the use of this method in patients with chronic kidney disease and a kidney transplantation. Materials: This was a retrospective monocentric study conducted by the transplant nephrology department in Martin, in which patients with chronic kidney disease, with or without kidney transplant therapy, who received a low-protein diet and supplementation with keto analogues were included (n = 59). The changes in their glomerular filtration rate, proteinemia, calcaemia, weight, and glycaemia and the side effects associated with a low-protein diet and keto analogue use were studied in the patients with chronic kidney disease with or without kidney transplantation. Results: The kidney transplant recipients had a significantly more advanced stage of chronic kidney disease (p = 0.0001) than the non-transplanted patients at the time of the prescription of the keto analogues (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, the kidney transplant recipients had a significantly longer follow-up period (p = 0.0001), with a difference of 27 months within subgroups. During the observed period, we recorded a decrease in glomerular filtration, but without statistical significance. In our group, we did not confirm a significant occurrence of adverse effects associated with a low-protein diet and keto analogues. Conclusion: Keto analogues reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease and stabilise glomerular filtration in patients with chronic kidney disease. Based on our analysis, treatment with keto analogues is effective and safe for kidney transplant recipients after kidney transplantation.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high prevalence worldwide, with increasing incidence in low- and middle-income countries, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly from cardiovascular disease. Protein-restricted diets are one of the most widely used non-pharmacological approaches to slow the progression of CKD and prevent associated metabolic abnormalities. However, some concerns have been raised about the long-term safety of these diets, particularly with regard to patients' nutritional status and bone and mineral disorders. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the most recent scientific evidence on the relevance of using protein-restricted diets (with or without keto-analogue supplementation) and, in particular, their relationships with malnutrition and mineral and bone disorders in people with CKD without kidney replacement therapies. Although protein-restricted diets, especially when supplemented with keto-analogues and highly personalized and monitored, do not appear to be associated with malnutrition, research on their effects on bone and mineral disorders is scarce, deserving further investigation.

Low protein diet (LPD) seems beneficial in ameliorating the complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD), in reducing proteinuria and the decline in kidney function, thus postponing the need for kidney replacement therapy (KRT). However, this type of intervention was less investigated in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). This is a single-center, prospective, interventional study that aims to assess the efficacy of reducing proteinuria and the rate of decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Patients with advanced DKD (stable proteinuria > 3 g/g and eGFR < 30 mL/min) with a good nutritional status and accepting a LPD were evaluated for inclusion. Ninety-two of the 452 screened patients (66% males, median age 61 years, proteinuria 4.8 g/g creatininuria, eGFR 11.7 mL/min/1.73 m2) completed the study. Intervention consisted of LPD supplemented with ketoanalogues of essential amino acids (KA) along with conventional nephroprotective therapy. Efficacy parameters were the variation in proteinuria and in eGFR from baseline to the end of the study. Proteinuria decreased 3-fold, and the rate of decline in eGFR decreased 5-fold in the intervention phase. No patient initiated KRT or died. LPD supplemented with KA seems effective in safely postponing KRT by reducing proteinuria and the decline in kidney function in advanced DKD.

In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, several risk factors contribute to the development of endothelial dysfunction (ED), which can be described as an alteration in the cell structure or in the function of the endothelium. Among the well-known CKD-related risk factors capable of altering the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factors, we include asymmetric dimethylarginine increase, reduced dimethylarginine dimethylamine hydrolase enzyme activity, low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, hyperhomocysteinemia, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, alteration of calcium phosphorus metabolism, and early aging. In this review, we also examined the most important techniques useful for studying ED in humans, which are divided into indirect and direct methods. The direct study of coronary endothelial function is considered the gold standard technique to evaluate if ED is present. In addition to the discussion of the main pharmacological treatments useful to counteract ED in CKD patients (namely sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist), we elucidate innovative non-pharmacological treatments that are successful in accompanying the pharmacological ones. Among them, the most important are the consumption of extra virgin olive oil with high intake of minor polar compounds, adherence to a plant-dominant, low-protein diet (LPD), an adaptive physical activity program and, finally, ketoanalogue administration in combination with the LPD or the very low-protein diet.

In the last few decades, the aging of the general population has significantly increased the number of elderly patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who require renal replacement therapy. ESKD elders are often frail and highly comorbid with social issues and seem to not benefit from dialysis in terms of survival and quality of life. Conservative management (CM) could represent a valid treatment option, allowing them to live for months to years with a modest impact on their habits. Despite these possible advantages, CM remains underused due to the myth of dialysis as the only effective treatment option for all ESKD patients regardless of its impact on quality of life and survival. Both CM and dialysis remain valid alternatives in the management of ESKD. However, assessing comorbidities, disabilities, and social context should drive the choice of the best possible treatment for ESKD, while in elderly patients with short life expectancies, referring them to palliative care seems the most reasonable choice.