Evaluation of Renastep

Renastep is designed for use in the dietary management of kidney disease between 3 and 18 years of age. It is a high-energy liquid feed containing protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and DHA. It contains low levels of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, chloride and vitamin A compared with a standard paediatric enteral feed.

Vitaflo (International) Ltd has developed Renastep following a request from the Paediatric Renal Interest Nutrition Group (PRING). They requested a low potassium and phosphate, high energy liquid feed for the dietary management of children with kidney disease that can be used as a sip feed or as a part of a modular tube feed.

There is currently no product designed specifically for use in this age group. Current dietetic practice involves either prescribing a powdered infant formula, in variable concentrations, or manipulating an adult renal sip feed to construct a modular feed, meeting the particular individual requirements of a paediatric patient with chronic kidney disease. This can be time consuming, complicated, can frequently involve preparation error leading to over or underconcentration of key nutrients, and increases the risk of microbial contamination. As Renastep is a ready to use product designed specifically for children with kidney disease, it can be expected that it will be more easily incorporated into the dietary management of the patient than the current options available. This has also been requested by the children and their families. Renastep could replace unsafe current practices that are the only option available to clinicians.

In order for Renastep to be prescribed within the NHS, it must first be subject to an application to the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS). The ACBS require data on the product's acceptability, in terms of gastrointestinal tolerance, palatability and participants' adherence to recommended intakes. The ACBS require such acceptability studies to be conducted in at least 15 patients for whom the product is designed. This stipulation is the reason for conducting the trial within patients aged 3 - 18 years of age with Chronic Kidney Disease.

The study will last for 28 days. Participants will self-report study data in Daily Diary forms that include 7 days of gastrointestinal data, daily records of how much of the product has been taken compared to the amount prescribed and a final evaluation of the product's palatability. The investigator will complete a Baseline CRF at the first visit to record demographic information, GI history and the most recent urea, phosphorus and potassium results. This will be supplemented by an End of Study CRF which will record urea, phosphorus and potassium results recorded during the trial period as part of usual clinical care. Information relating to gastrointestinal tolerance of Renastep over the 28-day study period will also be recorded by the Investigator in the End of Study CRF.

All study data will be anonymised and reviewed by the local investigator prior to it being forwarded to the sponsor, Vitaflo (International) Ltd.

Inclusion criteria

i) Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease.

ii) Aged between 3 and 18 years.

iii) Has a requirement for a restricted potassium and/or restricted phosphorus diet.

iv) Has a requirement for nutrition support.

v) Freely given, written, informed consent from patient or parent/guardian.

vi) Freely given, written assent (if appropriate).

Exclusion criteria

i) Inability to comply with the study protocol, in the opinion of the investigator.

ii) Aged under 3 years or over 18 years.

iii) Use of additional enteral feeds during the study period, unless clinically indicated and prescribed by the investigator (must be recorded in patient case record file).

iv) Women who are pregnant / breastfeeding at the start of the study or planning to become pregnant during the study period.