[Evaluation of nutritional status in chronic renal insufficiency]

No nutritional criteria have been validated in uremic patients. Chronic renal failure directly alters biological nutritional criteria. Anthropometric criteria are inadequate to routine follow up, but advisable to compare groups of patients. Quantitative evaluation of nitrogen ingestion and excretion allows to control dietetic compliance. They can not be used to check long term nitrogen balance. Nutritional criteria fail to diagnose mild undernutrition in uremic patients but they help to detect patients at risk to develop undernutrition when ascribed to low protein diets. Food inquiries, conducted by well trained dietitians are quite advisable, and helpful to the patients.