The Effects of Controlled Intake of Selected Protein Foods on Nephrectomized Rats

Dietary management of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) has remained a very tasking one, especially as it affects the source and quantity of protein in diets. This study was carried out to determine the effects of low-protein diets from common protein foods on 36 ⅔-nephrectomized albino rats (NR). NR were placed on isocaloric 14% protein diets incorporating cooked beef (A), smoked catfish (B), cooked beef and smoked catfish (C), cooked beef, smoked catfish and sun-dried, hulled, red cowpeas (D), cooked egg white (E), and sun-dried hulled, red cowpeas (F) for a period of six months during which food intake, anthropometric parameters, blood urea and serum creatinine levels were measured. Food intake decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the NR placed on all experimental diets, with F>A>C=D>B>E. The same trend was obtained for body weight gains. All the NR had proteinuria and reduction in 24–hour urine output; these were greatest in NR placed on diet F and lowest in those on diets E and B. Blood urea and serum creatinine levels of NR on diet E were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the corresponding levels for NR on diets B>C>A>D>F. In conclusion, this study has shown that cooked egg white and smoked catfish had more beneficial effects on food intake, anthropometric parameters, blood urea and creatinine levels in NR. It is recommended that low-protein diets containing egg white and fish be offered to patients suffering from early to moderately severe CRF as conservative therapy to ameliorate its symptoms in patients.