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Effect of potassium concentration in dialysate on total body potassium
H N Sanders1, I B Tyson, P A Bittle
1Department of Nutrition and Food Services, James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA. hsanders@com1.med.usf.edu
Objective:
To investigate the effects of the presence/absence of potassium in the dialysate on total body potassium content in stable hemodialysis patients.
Design:
Randomized selection.
Setting:
Outpatient chronic hemodialysis unit at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
Patients:
Six adult hemodialysis patients (mean age 48 +/- 11.61 years, range 32-65 years) participated in this study. They were all males, four African-Americans and two Caucasians.
Intervention:
Subjects in a random order received dialysis using a dialysate containing no potassium for 3 months, followed by a 2 mEq/L of potassium for another 3 months. Total body potassium measurements and routine blood analysis were taken at baseline and after each three month period. All subjects received diet instruction pre and monthly on a 3 g/day potassium dietary restriction.
Main Outcome Measured:
There were no significant differences in the amount of total body potassium concentration between the two different dialysates containing 0 or 2 mEq/L potassium. Mean values of serum albumin were significantly higher when the subjects were dialyzed on a 0 potassium bath.
Conclusion:
The use of dialysate containing 0 or 2 mEq/L potassium concentration does not make a significant difference with regard to total body potassium concentration and maybe advantageous for the patients in terms of more freedom in nutritional intake as demonstrated by a significant increase in serum albumin when they were dialyzed on a 0 potassium bath.