Effect of Viscous Fiber on Postprandial Kalemic Response in Hemodialysis Patients

Completed

Conditions studied: Hyperkalemia, Chronic Kidney Disease Requiring Chronic Dialysis

In brief

High blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia) is a major problem for people with kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis treatment. In order to reduce the risk of hyperkalemia, people with kidney failure are advised to limit or avoid high-potassium foods. However, high-potassium foods comprise many healthy food choices, including commonly consumed fruits and vegetables that are key sources of dietary fiber, and other important nutrients. Risk of hyperkalemia from dietary potassium intake is most notable in the first few hours after a meal when ingested potassium enters the bloodstream. In general, dietary potassium is very well absorbed. However, dietary fiber has been shown to increase the proportion of dietary potassium that is excreted in stool. Based on these findings, it has been proposed that fiber may help to lower the risk of hyperkalemia in people with kidney disease. It remains unclear whether dietary fiber increases potassium excretion in stool by reducing the absorption of dietary potassium, or by drawing body potassium into the bowels by increasing stool bulk. The distinction may be important, as reducing potassium absorption would be expected to be of greater benefit in preventing hyperkalemia caused by eating high-potassium foods. In this study, the investigators will assess whether a fiber supplement can reduce the effect of dietary potassium from orange juice on blood potassium levels in people with kidney disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05086185

Run by

University of Nevada, Reno

People needed

7

Starts

2021-06-29

Expected to finish

2023-10-05

Last updated by the study team

2025-03-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 89. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Kidney failure undergoing thrice-weekly maintenance hemodialysis
• 10 patients without diabetes mellitus, and 10 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) that are being managed with lifestyle and/or long-acting insulin

You may not qualify if…

• Moderate hyperkalemia (>6.5 mEq/L) in the last 6-months.
• Potassium-lowering medications
• Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases that may alter potassium digestion and absorption.
• Low hemoglobin concentrations (<10.0 g/dL).
• Deemed to be inappropriate for the intervention by Study Nephrologist based on cognition, prognosis, or pending treatments
• Women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant

Where it is running

• University of Nevada,Reno — Reno, Nevada, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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