Short-Term Safety of Nutri-Jelly in Adults Undergoing Hemodialysis

Excessive water consumption from liquid or reconstituted oral nutrition supplements may increase risk of fluid overload in renal patients. Nutri-jelly, a ready-to-eat texture-modified diet with 52.8% water, some protein, low potassium, phosphorus, and sodium, could be an alternative. However, its safety is unknown for adults undergoing hemodialysis (HD). This study investigated the short-term physiological safety of Nutri-Jelly intake and its preliminary impact on renal outcomes. A randomized open-label, single-arm, two-sequence, two-period cross-over trial was conducted in 20 adults undergoing HD with inadequate protein intake (0.50 - 0.70 g/ kg body weight/day). Participants were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n =10 each) and assigned in random sequence into both Without-Jelly (HD 3 times during 7 days) and With-Jelly periods (100 g Nutri-Jelly twice daily along with HD 3 times during 7 days). A two-week washout was between the periods. Outcome measures included adverse symptoms, changes in body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood biochemical parameters relevant to renal outcomes. The results showed no intervention-related adverse symptoms or significant changes in body weight, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, creatinine, albumin, and sodium. Potassium level and pre-HD diastolic blood pressure were better controlled during the With Jelly than the Without Jelly Periods (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The eGFR was improved with no significant difference between the periods. The findings suggest that continuous intake of 100 g Nutri-Jelly twice daily for 7 days is safe in adults undergoing hemodialysis. Its efficacy on renal-related parameters warrants further investigations in long-term studies.