Total protein or leucine intakes are not associated with handgrip strength in hemodialysis patients: A pilot study

Background & aims: Inadequate protein intake is associated with lean body mass (LBM) loss. However, it is unclear whether high protein diet and leucine intake are associated with handgrip strength (HGS), a validated marker of muscle function. This study aims to: i) assess the prevalence of patients with low HGS; and ii) verify if HGS is correlated with high protein diet and leucine consumption in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed patients at two center hemodialysis (HD) clinic and sixtytwo patients aged similar to 39 years with length of time on HD similar to 60 months undergoing HD was carried out. Body weight (kg), LBM (kg) and body fat mass (%) assessments were performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and height (m) through portable stadiometer. Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) was calculated using the body weight and height. HGS (kg) was measured using a hydraulic dynamometer. Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression were done to test the hypothesis. Results: Out of 62 patients, 47 (75.8%) presented low HGS. In addition, no correlation was found between protein intake (if in percentage or g/kg/d) and HGS (r = 0.07, p = 0.58; r = -0.04, p = 0.70, respectively). Although there is a low correlation among leucine intake (g/d) and HGS (r = 0.39, p = 0.01), low HGS was not associated with leucine intake in the crude model (OR: 0.86 95%CI(0.60-1.24) p = 0.441), nor after adjustment for age, sex and BMI (OR: 0.84 95%CI(0.56-1.26), p = 0.422). Conclusions: Approximately 75% of patients undergoing hemodialysis presented low HGS. Additionally, neither a high protein diet nor leucine intake was associated with the HGS values. (C) 2019 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.