Usefulness of nutrition facts label for persons with chronic kidney disease

We sought to determine what information should be included on the nutrition facts label (NFL) to improve its usefulness for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Our survey asked for frequency of food-label reading, use of information on the label related to specific nutrients, and perceived needs.

Our survey was internet-based.

Our subjects included 317 individuals with CKD and caregivers who self-subscribed to electronic mailing lists maintained by nationally based groups providing education and/or support for individuals with CKD.

The intervention consisted of an analysis of survey results.

Main outcome measures included respondent self-reported behaviors, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and perceived needs related to the NFL in terms of foods and beverages.

Survey respondents (81.8%) rated nutrition as important (39.2%) or very important (42.6%) when making food choices. A roughly equal number (82.6%) indicated reading the NFL often for the amounts of nutrients in a food. However, less than one fourth of the respondents (24.0%) were able to determine the amount of calcium in a food correctly, based on percent daily value (%DV), and many (64.6%) indicated they did not know how to convert the %DV to an absolute amount (the 100% daily value for calcium is 1000 mg). Respondents indicated that they decided not to purchase foods that did not list absolute amounts of nutrients of concern (58.4% for potassium, and 53.9% for phosphorus) on the NFL.

Individuals with CKD would prefer, or find it more useful, to see nutrients of concern listed in absolute amounts on the NFL. They also indicated that potassium and phosphorus should be required on the label, to allow the option of determining whether to include a food in their diet.