ASSESSMENT OF PROTEIN-INTAKE IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC RENAL-INSUFFICIENCY

Daily nitrogen intake was estimated in 19 children, aged (mean+/-SD) 9 .9+/-5.0 (range: 1-19) years with chronic renal insufficiency (creatin ine clearance 47.1+/-19.3 ml/min/1.73 m(2), range: 11-75) by 31 three- day prospective dietary records (NIDR) and simultaneous 24-hour urine urea excretion (NIUE). Daily nitrogen intake was 11.05+/-3.9 g by NIDR and 8.52+/-3.3 g by NIUE, and a significant correlation (r=0.61; p=0. 0003) existed between both methods of measurement. However, the differ ence in nitrogen intake estimated from dietary records and from 24-hou r urine collection (NIDR-NIUE) was 2.5+/-3.3 g, greater than the mean estimated nitrogen intake calculated from both methods, (NIDR+NIUE)/2, 95% limits of agreement being +9.1 to -4.1. Thus, NIDR and NIUE value s show a good correlation in children with chronic renal insufficiency , although both methods may provide quite a different estimation in a given child.