Why do dialysis patients need higher dietary protein intake?

Why do dialysis patients need higher dietary protein intake?

• A. To promote dehydration
• B. To compensate for amino acid losses during dialysis
• C. To lower cholesterol
• D. To accelerate dialysis clearance

Answer: (B)

Dialysis can remove amino acids from the blood during treatment, creating a net loss of body protein. To maintain muscle, support healing, and keep immune function, patients on dialysis typically need more dietary protein than people not on dialysis. Eating sufficient, high-quality protein helps replace those losses and prevent malnutrition. The other ideas don’t address why protein intake is increased: dehydration isn’t driven by protein intake, lowering cholesterol isn’t the goal of this adjustment, and more protein doesn’t speed up dialysis clearance.

Dialysis can remove amino acids from the blood during treatment, creating a net loss of body protein. To maintain muscle, support healing, and keep immune function, patients on dialysis typically need more dietary protein than people not on dialysis. Eating sufficient, high-quality protein helps replace those losses and prevent malnutrition. The other ideas don’t address why protein intake is increased: dehydration isn’t driven by protein intake, lowering cholesterol isn’t the goal of this adjustment, and more protein doesn’t speed up dialysis clearance.