Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective This study aimed to explore the effect of compound α-ketoacids on the dialysis patients with malnutrition assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment - short form (MNA-SF). Methods We investigated 2,252 patients who suffered from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the dialysis centers of 150
hospitals. These patients were treated with hemodialysis (HD) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for more than 3 months and compound α-ketoacids tablets orally for 6 months. The nutrition status before taking compound α-ketoacids tablets was used as control group. MNA-SF method combined with objective indexes including body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF), mid-arm circumference (AMC), serum albumin (ALB) were used for monitoring nutrition status. Frideman test and paired rank test were used for statistical analyses. Results After 6 months of oral compound α-ketoacids treatment, MNA-SF score increased from 11.13±2.35 to 12.44±1.58 (P＜0.001), and the number of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition cases decreased from 181 patients (8.04%) and 952 cases (42.27%) to 33 patients (1.48%) and 474 cases (21.24%), respectively. BMI rose from 21.86±3.38 kg/m2 to 22.18±3.32 kg/m2 and serum ALB from 35.93± 5.31 g/L to 38.27±5.04 g/L, with statistical differences. TSF, AMC and lymphocyte count also increased obviously. Conclusion Compound α- ketoacids supplement could increase serum ALB and BMI and improve malnutrition status in dialysis patients.

Key words: Dialysis, Malnutrition, Compound α-ketoacids, MNA-SF