Multimodal approach to malnutrition in malnourished maintenance hemodialysis patients

Chronic organ failures, including chronic kidney disease, cardiac failure, and chronic pulmonary disease, share a common phenotype which is characterized by a high prevalence of anorexia, inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, hypogonadism, and anemia. Because of the systemic dimension of organ failure, such a phenotype results in a decrease in body mass, in addition to alterations of body composition and abnormal muscle structure, metabolism, and performance. The response of both protein-energy wasting and muscle disease to nutritional support given alone was shown to be limited both in chronic kidney disease and chronic pulmonary disease. Data are needed to evaluate the effects of an integrated management taking into account the different factor of muscle anabolism: nutrition support, endurance exercise, and, in selected patients, other anabolic agents such as androgens and omega-3 fatty acids.