Nutritional Status, Selected Nutrients Intake and Their Relationship with the Concentration of Ghrelin and...

Overnutrition is one of the risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The factors related to both obesity and CKD are adiponectin and ghrelin. The aim of the study was to assess if there is a link of nutritional status and selected nutrients intake with adiponectin and ghrelin in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

The study involved 55 patients diagnosed with DN in the pre-dialysis period (two groups: GFR < 30 and >30 mL/min/1.73 m²). In all participants standard blood tests, total ghrelin and total adiponectin plasma concentrations and anthropometric measurements (BMI, WHR- waist-hip ratio, body composition analysis) were performed. The evaluation of energy and nutrient intakes was made using the three-day food record method.

Excessive body weight was found in 92.80% patients. The average daily energy intake was 1979.67 kcal/day (14.45% protein energy, 28.86% fat, and carbohydrates 56.89%). In the group with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m² the analysis showed a negative relationship between ghrelin and WHR value, and the creatine and albumin concentrations. There was a positive correlation between ghrelin concentration and the consumption of carbohydrates and sucrose. In the group of patients with eGFR > 30 mL/min/1.73 m², a positive correlation was found between the concentration of ghrelin and the consumption of vegetable protein, carbohydrates, and glucose.

The study confirms the high prevalence of obesity in patients with DN-Excessive supply of protein was found in the patients' diets, which may contribute to the deterioration of the course of the disease and its prognosis. In patients with eGFR < 30 there was a negative correlation between ghrelin concentration and nutritional status, and in patents with eGFR > 30 between ghrelin concentration and some nutrients intake.