BMC nephrologyJul 21, 2016

Use of Low-Protein Diets in North Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease Not on Dialysis

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 6, 2026

Abstract

A low protein diet (LPD, 0.6-0.8 g/kg/day) is infrequently prescribed for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in North America.

Historical factors, such as inconclusive results from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study, may have influenced the limited use of LPD in the USA.
Patients in the US typically consume a high protein diet, contrasting sharply with LPD recommendations.
Concerns about protein-energy wasting are significant barriers to LPD adoption, as indicated by a pilot survey of US nephrologists.
There is growing interest among healthcare professionals in exploring the potential benefits of LPD for CKD management.
Monitoring adherence to dietary recommendations is essential and should be conducted by trained dietitians using 24-hour urine collections to estimate protein intake.

Simplified

Whereas in many parts of the world a low protein diet (LPD, 0.6-0.8 g/kg/day) is routinely prescribed for the management of patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD), this practice is infrequent in North America. The historical underpinnings related to LPD in the USA including the non-conclusive results of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study may have played a role. Overall trends to initiate dialysis earlier in the course of CKD in the US allowed less time for LPD prescription. The usual dietary intake in the US includes high dietary protein content, which is in sharp contradistinction to that of a LPD. The fear of engendering or worsening protein-energy wasting may be an important handicap as suggested by a pilot survey of US nephrologists; nevertheless, there is also potential interest and enthusiasm in gaining further insight regarding LPD's utility in both research and in practice. Racial/ethnic disparities in the US and patients' adherence are additional challenges. Adherence should be monitored by well-trained dietitians by means of both dietary assessment techniques and 24-h urine collections to estimate dietary protein intake using urinary urea nitrogen (UUN). While keto-analogues are not currently available in the USA, there are other oral nutritional supplements for the provision of high-biologic-value proteins along with dietary energy intake of 30-35 Cal/kg/day available. Different treatment strategies related to dietary intake may help circumvent the protein- energy wasting apprehension and offer novel conservative approaches for CKD management in North America.

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Use of Low-Protein Diets in North Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease Not on Dialysis

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