GROWTH AND NUTRITION OF UREMIC PIGLETS

Newborn piglets rendered uremic by subtotal nephrectomy were taken as an animal model to study the dietary intake and growth of infants with chronic renal insufficiency. At blood urea concentrations around 15 mmol/l the piglets had a reduced voluntary intake of a sow''s milk substitute and diminished growth when compared with a control group. Tube feeding nephrectomized piglets volumes of feed equal to those consumed by controls resulted in initial satisfactory growth, but the piglets then all died with high blood urea concentrations. Nephrectomized piglets offered a voluntary intake of a low protein, isocaloric feed ate even less than the nephrectomized animals on the sow''s milk substitute and were smaller despite lower blood urea and creatinine concentrations. These results indicate that a decreased food intake is a major factor in the growth retardation seen in chronic renal insufficiency. Furthermore, the protein content of feeds should not be reduced below the minimum recommended, and maximal voluntary intakes of feed should be offered.