The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a plant-dominant low protein diet, referred to as PLADO diet, works to decrease metabolic acidosis, a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, in adults with CKD. It will also learn about the safety, viability, and economic attractiveness of this diet. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the PLADO diet more effective in managing metabolic acidosis in comparison with the standard-of-care CKD diet in adults with CKD? * Is the PLADO diet safe, viable, and economically attractive adults with CKD? Researchers will compare the PLADO diet to the standard-of-care CKD diet to see if the PLADO diet works better to decrease metabolic acidosis. Participants will: * Receive nutrition education of the PLADO diet or the standard-of-care CKD diet via monthly sessions for 6 months. * Visit the clinic monthly for 6 months, then after 3 months for checkups and tests.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
48
Low protein plant-dominant diet (PLADO) of 0.6-0.8 g/kg/day of proteins with at least 50% plant-based sources, sodium of \<4 g/day and \<3 g/day in case of edema or hypertension, fibers of 25-30 g/day, and calories of 30-35 Kcal/kg/day provided in the form of individualized meal plans administered by a licensed/registered dietitian. The nutrition education intervention will be provided via a primary face-to-face education/counseling session of 45-60 minutes, followed by a monthly face-to-face follow-up session of 30-45 minutes for 6 months, and a face-to-face follow-up session of 30-45 minutes after 3 months. At each visit, participants will be screened according to the Transtheoretical behavior change model (TTM) using a TTM-based algorithm to determine their stage/readiness to adhere to PLADO and will receive stage-based education and counseling accordingly. Stage-based education will be divided into 1) Pre-contemplation and contemplation; 2) Preparation; and 3) Action and Maintenance
Current standard-of-care diet composed of dietary protein, fluid, sodium potassium, and phosphorus restrictions provided via monthly face-to-face sessions of 30-45 minutes over a period of 6 months, and a follow-up session after 3 months provided by the same licensed/registered dietitian. Patients will be recruited to the control arm in the same period to avoid seasonal differences.
Lebanese American University Medical Center- Rizk Hospital
Beirut, Lebanon
RECRUITINGMetabolic acidosis assessed by PTCO2
Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9
Body weight
Body weight measured using a balance beam scale Unit: kg
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
%Weight Change
%Weight Change (to the last measurement) Unit: %
Time frame: Months 3, 6, and 9
Triceps Skinfold thickness
Triceps Skinfold thickness measured using a measuring tape and a skinfold caliper Unit: mm
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Body Fat Percentage
%Body Fat for edema-free patients assessed using Bioimpedance analysis (Maltron Bioscan) Unit: %
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Fat Free Mass Percentage
%Fat Free Mass for edema-free patients assessed using Bioimpedance analysis (Maltron Bioscan) Unit: %
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total Body Water Percentage
%Total Body Water for edema-free patients assessed using Bioimpedance analysis (Maltron Bioscan) Unit: %
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
BUN assessed via blood test Unit: mg/dL
Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
eGFR calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation = (((140 - age in years) x (weight in kg)) x 1.23) / (serum creatinine in micromol/l) Unit: mL/min/1.73m²
Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9
Serum Potassium (K)
Serum K assessed via blood test Unit: mEq/L
Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9
Serum Phosphorus (P)
Serum P assessed via blood test Unit: mg/dL
Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Serum CRP assessed via blood test Unit: mg/L
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Albumin
Serum Albumin assessed via blood test Unit: g/dL
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Hemoglobin
Serum Hemoglobin assessed via blood test Unit: g/dL
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Hematocrit
Serum Hematocrit assessed via blood test Unit: %
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Mean Corpusculum Volume (MCV)
Average size of red blood cells assessed via blood test Unit: Femtoliter (fL)
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Ferritin
Serum Ferritin assessed via blood test Unit: ng/mL
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Glycated hemoglobin A1C
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) measured via blood test Unit: %
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Urinary microalbumin: creatinine ratio (UmACR)
UmACR assessed via urine test Unit: mg/g creatinine
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Urinary potassium excretion
Urinary potassium excretion (spot) measured via urine test Unit: meq/L
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Urinary phosphorus excretion
Urinary phosphorus excretion (spot) measured via urine test Unit: mg/dL
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria
GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition. A participant is identified as malnourished when at least one phenotypic and one etiologic criterion is met. Phenotypic criteria include unintentional weight loss (\>5% within 6 months or \>10% beyond 6 months), age-specific low Body Mass Index (\< 20 kg/m2 for individuals \< 70 years old and \< 22 kg/m2 for individuals 70 years and older), and reduced muscle mass assessed using body composition parameters to detect muscle depletion. Etiologic criteria include reduced food intake or assimilation (defined as a reduction in energy intake \> 50% of requirements for over one week or any reduction lasting more than 2 weeks) and the presence of acute disease or chronic diseases related inflammation. Score: one phenotypic criterion and one etiologic criterion, to diagnose malnutrition
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total Caloric intake per kilogram body weight (Kcal/kg)
The total caloric intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total caloric intake (Kcal) will then be divided by the body weight (kg) at the same time point of data collection. Unit: Kcal/kg
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total dietary protein intake per kilogram body weight (g/kg)
The total dietary protein intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of dietary proteins in grams (g) will then be divided by the dry body weight (kg) at the same time point of data collection. Unit: g/kg
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Carbohydrate intake percentage (%)
The total carbohydrate intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of carbohydrate in grams (g) will then be multiplied by 4 Kcal to get the calories of carbohydrates. Afterwards, it will be divided by the total amount of calories consumed at the same time point of data collection to obtain the percentage of total intake. Unit: percentage (%)
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total fat intake percentage (%)
The total fat intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of fat in grams (g) will then be multiplied by 9 Kcal to get the calories of fat. Afterwards, it will be divided by the total amount of calories consumed at the same time point of data collection to obtain the percentage of total intake. Unit: percentage (%)
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Trans fat intake percentage (%)
The total trans-fat intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of trans-fat in grams (g) will then be multiplied by 9 Kcal to get the calories of fat. Afterwards, it will be divided by the total amount of calories consumed at the same time point of data collection to obtain the percentage of total intake. Unit: percentage (%)
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total potassium intake (g)
The total potassium intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend) and reported in grams per day. Unit: g/d
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total phosphorus intake (g)
The total phosphorus intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend) and reported in grams per day. Unit: g/d
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Total sodium intake (g)
The total sodium intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend) and reported in grams per day. Unit: g/d
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Nutrition focused physical examination (NFPE)
The nutrition focused physical examination will be conducted by a licensed dietitian who will assess fat and muscle depletion, as well as the presence of edema.
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Muscle strength (kg)
Muscle strength will be measured using a handgrip strength assessment with a calibrated hand dynamometer. Participants will be seated upright with their back supported, feet flat on the floor, and their elbow flexed at a 90-degree angle. The hand dynamometer will be adjusted to fit the participant's hand size who will be instructed to squeeze the dynamometer with maximum effort for 3-5 seconds. Three measurements will be taken for each hand, with a rest period of 30 to 60 seconds and the average of the three measurements will be recorded as the final handgrip strength. Unit: kg
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms will be assessed using the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire (B-IBS-Q), a validated tool for evaluating the frequency, severity, and impact of gastrointestinal symptoms. It is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 11 items designed to assess the frequency of IBS-related symptoms, with each question having a standard response scale. Symptoms are measured based on a 6-point Likert scale (0-5) ranging from all of the time (5) to none (0) and converted to 100, with higher scores indicating more frequent IBS symptoms. The scale has 3 dimensions, including pain, constipation, and diarrhea.
Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9
Health-related Quality of Life
Quality of life will be assessed using the EuroQOL-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L), a widely validated and internationally recognized instrument for measuring health-related quality of life. The tool consists of two components: a descriptive system and a visual analog scale (VAS). The descriptive component includes five dimensions of health: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is rated on a 5-level scale, ranging from no problems to extreme problems. Participants will select the most appropriate level that reflects their current health status for each dimension. The responses are then used to generate a health state profile, which can be converted into a single index score using country-specific value sets. In addition to the descriptive system, participants will rate their overall health status using a visual analog scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health).
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
Costs
Costs relevant to direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and indirect costs assessed using a resource utilization questionnaire with the patients, and calculated following the identification, measurement, and valuation steps.
Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9
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