Amino acid therapy for patients with chronic renal failure

Conservative therapy in advanced chronic renal failure is based on low-protein diet. Precautions have to be taken so that the patient does not develop protein deficiency. By supplementing low-protein diets with essential amino acids orally (as tablets) this risk can be minimized. Uremic patients have specific requirements for some amino acids which can be fulfilled by modifying the composition of the amino acid preparation. By supplementing a low-protein diet (approximately 0.3 g protein/kg B.W./day) with an amino acid mixture which contains proportionally more valine and less leucine and isoleucine than prescribed by the Rose formula and, in addition, histidine and tyrosine, the amino acid abnormalities in plasma and muscle can be improved and nitrogen equilibrium maintained.