【Abstract】Objective The aim was to observe the effects of ultrapure dialysate (UPD) on nutritional parameters in chronic hemodialysis patients. Methods A controlled, prospective and randomized study was carried out on 21 stable patients dialyzed on low-flux synthetic polysulphone membrane and assigned to either UPD or conventional dialysate (CD). Blood samples and dialysate samples were collected at pre-dialysis. The variables monitored included Kt/V, normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), dry body weight, serum albumin, serum leptin and IGF-1. They were measured one week before the study, and after one week, one month, six months and twelve months during the dialysis session. Results There were no significant differences in the changes of Kt/V, nPCR, dry body weight, serum albumin and serum leptin between the two groups. At the end of study, there was a significant increase of IGF-1 in UPD group (paired t test, P＜0.05), as compared with their baseline values. However, there was no difference in the changes of IGF-1 between the two groups. Conclusions Use of UPD should be beneficial to the nutritional status in long-term hemodialysis patients.
