Assessment of Vitamin and Mineral Intake and Some Related Factors in Hemodialysis Patients Referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran

Deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and some trace elements have been observed in hemodialysis patients, for which inadequate nutrient intake is considered to be one of the most important reasons. Correcting the micronutrient status of these patients will improve their quality of life. This study was performed to evaluate vitamin and mineral intakes and some related factors in hemodialysis patients referred to Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 114 hemodialysis patients. To evaluate the patients’ diet, 24 hour recall for 3 days (two usual days and one holiday) was applied. Food Processor II (FP II) was utilized to calculate the amount of micronutrient intakes.

Low micronutrient intakes were highly prevalent in the hemodialysis patients studied (36-100%). There was a significant negative relationship between age and thiamine, vitamin E, iron and zinc (P<0.05). Means for thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folate, iron, magnesium and zinc intakes were significantly higher in men than in women (P<0.05). Moreover, mean vitamin E intake in the group with dialysis durations less than 3 years was higher than in the group with dialysis durations of over 3 years (P=0.009). Mean magnesium and folate intakes were higher in the group without comorbidity than the group with comorbidity(P<0.05).

According to the present study, low micronutrient intake had a very high prevalence in hemodialysis patients.