Intraperitoneal nutrition

Provision of nutrients through the peritoneum is as old as peritoneal dialy sis (PD) itself. Studies with a shelf-stable amino acid-based dialysis solu tion have shown that the amino acids absorbed during one exchange quantitat ively exceed the daily losses of proteins and amino acids. The supplementar y amino acids are well tolerated and can induce protein anabolism in many m alnourished PD patients, as is evident from increased nitrogen balance, ins ulin like growth factor-1, and increased concentrations of serum proteins. Such solutions offer a convenient means of providing nutritional supplement ation to address the major nutritional needs of PD patients. (C) 1999 by th e National Kidney Foundation, Inc.