Living with chronic kidney disease often means dealing with significant physical limitations. For those on hemodialysis, staying mobile is a major challenge. A review of several trials looked at how combining nutrition with exercise—such as resistance training or aerobic activity—affects these patients compared to doing only one or neither.
The data showed that patients who received both nutritional supplements and exercise saw improvements in physical performance. Specifically, they walked further during six-minute tests and moved at faster speeds. They also performed better on timed up and go tests, which measure how quickly a person can stand and move. However, the study did not find significant changes in body mass index, muscle mass, or overall quality of life.
It is important to note that while these improvements were observed, the researchers noted a very low certainty of evidence for all outcomes. Additionally, some patients reported gastrointestinal issues during the program. Because the evidence is still limited, patients should talk to their doctors about how these combined programs might fit into their specific care plan.
