Sarcopenia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Patients

Summary

Sarcopenia, or loss of muscle and strength is common in patients with poor kidney function. Although a high protein diet is generally recommended for sarcopenia, patients with poor kidney function are advised to follow a low-protein diet. In this study, we will evaluate the practicality and potential benefits of two different amino acids (molecules that form proteins) in improving sarcopenia in patients with advanced kidney disease. The study aims to improve muscle mass and strength. All study procedures are free of cost and do not require significant time commitment. You will have time to ask questions and discuss the study with your family, primary care physician, and your kidney doctor to make the decision if this is right study for you to participate in.

Timeline

Start

2026-06-01

Primary completion

2027-07-31

Completion

2027-10-30

Publications

• Results Duarte MP, Almeida LS, Neri SGR, Oliveira JS, Wilkinson TJ, Ribeiro HS, Lima RM. Prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with chronic kidney disease: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2024 Apr;15(2):501-512. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13425. Epub 2024 Jan 24.
• Results Alvestrand A, Furst P, Bergstrom J. Plasma and muscle free amino acids in uremia: influence of nutrition with amino acids. Clin Nephrol. 1982 Dec;18(6):297-305.
• Results Ikizler TA, Burrowes JD, Byham-Gray LD, Campbell KL, Carrero JJ, Chan W, Fouque D, Friedman AN, Ghaddar S, Goldstein-Fuchs DJ, Kaysen GA, Kopple JD, Teta D, Yee-Moon Wang A, Cuppari L. KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update. Am J Kidney Dis. 2020 Sep;76(3 Suppl 1):S1-S107. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.05.006.
• Results Jiang S, Fang J, Li W. Protein restriction for diabetic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Jan 3;1(1):CD014906. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD014906.pub2.
• Results Laidlaw SA, Berg RL, Kopple JD, Naito H, Walker WG, Walser M. Patterns of fasting plasma amino acid levels in chronic renal insufficiency: results from the feasibility phase of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study. Am J Kidney Dis. 1994 Apr;23(4):504-13. doi: 10.1016/s0272-6386(12)80371-4.
• Results Wu Y, Chen J, Tao Y, Xiao M, Xiong J, Chen A, Ma X, Li L, Jia H, Zhang Q, Xue Y, Jia Y, Zheng Z. Association between dietary protein intake and mortality among patients with diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2024 Jul;18(7):103091. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.103091. Epub 2024 Jul 27.
• Results Tizianello A, Deferrari G, Garibotto G, Robaudo C, Lutman M, Passerone G, Bruzzone M. Branched-chain amino acid metabolism in chronic renal failure. Kidney Int Suppl. 1983 Dec;16:S17-22.
• Results Block KP, Harper AE. Valine metabolism in vivo: effects of high dietary levels of leucine and isoleucine. Metabolism. 1984 Jun;33(6):559-66. doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(84)90012-x.
• Results Burns J, Cresswell E, Ell S, Fynn M, Jackson MA, Lee HA, Richards P, Rowlands A, Talbot S. Comparison of the effects of keto acid analogues and essential amino acids on nitrogen homeostasis in uremic patients on moderately protein-restricted diets. Am J Clin Nutr. 1978 Oct;31(10):1767-75. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/31.10.1767.
• Results Masud T, Young VR, Chapman T, Maroni BJ. Adaptive responses to very low protein diets: the first comparison of ketoacids to essential amino acids. Kidney Int. 1994 Apr;45(4):1182-92. doi: 10.1038/ki.1994.157.
• Results Sunsandee N, Thimachai P, Satirapoj B, Supasyndh O. Anti-sarcopenic effect of leucine-enriched branched-chain amino acid supplementation among elderly chronic kidney disease patients: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Nov;57(11):3811-3819. doi: 10.1007/s11255-025-04560-9. Epub 2025 May 17.
• Results Studenski SA, Peters KW, Alley DE, Cawthon PM, McLean RR, Harris TB, Ferrucci L, Guralnik JM, Fragala MS, Kenny AM, Kiel DP, Kritchevsky SB, Shardell MD, Dam TT, Vassileva MT. The FNIH sarcopenia project: rationale, study description, conference recommendations, and final estimates. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014 May;69(5):547-58. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glu010.
• Results Bhasin S, Travison TG, Manini TM, Patel S, Pencina KM, Fielding RA, Magaziner JM, Newman AB, Kiel DP, Cooper C, Guralnik JM, Cauley JA, Arai H, Clark BC, Landi F, Schaap LA, Pereira SL, Rooks D, Woo J, Woodhouse LJ, Binder E, Brown T, Shardell M, Xue QL, D'Agostino RB Sr, Orwig D, Gorsicki G, Correa-De-Araujo R, Cawthon PM. Sarcopenia Definition: The Position Statements of the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Jul;68(7):1410-1418. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16372. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

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