Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06932042

PLADO for Conservative Management of CKD

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a plant-dominant low protein diet, referred to as PLADO diet, works to decrease metabolic acidosis, a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, in adults with CKD. It will also learn about the safety, viability, and economic attractiveness of this diet.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Is the PLADO diet more effective in managing metabolic acidosis in comparison with the standard-of-care CKD diet in adults with CKD? * Is the PLADO diet safe, viable, and economically attractive adults with CKD?

Researchers will compare the PLADO diet to the standard-of-care CKD diet to see if the PLADO diet works better to decrease metabolic acidosis.

Participants will:

* Receive nutrition education of the PLADO diet or the standard-of-care CKD diet via monthly sessions for 6 months. * Visit the clinic monthly for 6 months, then after 3 months for checkups and tests.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Lebanese American University Medical Center- Rizk Hospital

Beirut, Lebanon

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Joelle Abi Kharma

CONTACT

[email protected]

+9611200800 ext. 3806

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients aged 18 years and above, having controlled glycemic and blood pressure parameters on treatment, with an established diagnosis of stages 3-5 CKD and an estimated GFR ≤59 ml/min/1.73 m2 stable for at least three months, and with a normal nutritional status as defined by the GLIM criteria, attending the CKD outpatient clinics at LAUMC-RH, willing to undergo the baseline screening and attend the monthly face-to-face visits at the outpatient department at LAUMC-RH.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with overt infection, persistent anorexia, vomiting, or diarrhea within the last month, presence of wasting diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, liver failure, heart failure, and those with serum potassium >5.5 mEq/L during the past 6 months.

Treatment and study plan

PLADO

Other

Low protein plant-dominant diet (PLADO) of 0.6-0.8 g/kg/day of proteins with at least 50% plant-based sources, sodium of <4 g/day and <3 g/day in case of edema or hypertension, fibers of 25-30 g/day, and calories of 30-35 Kcal/kg/day provided in the form of individualized meal plans administered by a licensed/registered dietitian. The nutrition education intervention will be provided via a primary face-to-face education/counseling session of 45-60 minutes, followed by a monthly face-to-face follow-up session of 30-45 minutes for 6 months, and a face-to-face follow-up session of 30-45 minutes after 3 months. At each visit, participants will be screened according to the Transtheoretical behavior change model (TTM) using a TTM-based algorithm to determine their stage/readiness to adhere to PLADO and will receive stage-based education and counseling accordingly. Stage-based education will be divided into 1) Pre-contemplation and contemplation; 2) Preparation; and 3) Action and Maintenance

Standard-of-care diet

Other

Current standard-of-care diet composed of dietary protein, fluid, sodium potassium, and phosphorus restrictions provided via monthly face-to-face sessions of 30-45 minutes over a period of 6 months, and a follow-up session after 3 months provided by the same licensed/registered dietitian. Patients will be recruited to the control arm in the same period to avoid seasonal differences.

Primary outcomes

  1. Metabolic acidosis assessed by PTCO2

    Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9

Secondary outcomes

  1. Body weight

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Body weight measured using a balance beam scale Unit: kg

  2. %Weight Change

    Time frame: Months 3, 6, and 9

    %Weight Change (to the last measurement) Unit: %

  3. Triceps Skinfold thickness

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Triceps Skinfold thickness measured using a measuring tape and a skinfold caliper Unit: mm

  4. Body Fat Percentage

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    %Body Fat for edema-free patients assessed using Bioimpedance analysis (Maltron Bioscan) Unit: %

  5. Fat Free Mass Percentage

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    %Fat Free Mass for edema-free patients assessed using Bioimpedance analysis (Maltron Bioscan) Unit: %

  6. Total Body Water Percentage

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    %Total Body Water for edema-free patients assessed using Bioimpedance analysis (Maltron Bioscan) Unit: %

  7. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

    Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9

    BUN assessed via blood test Unit: mg/dL

  8. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)

    Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9

    eGFR calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation = (((140 - age in years) x (weight in kg)) x 1.23) / (serum creatinine in micromol/l) Unit: mL/min/1.73m²

  9. Serum Potassium (K)

    Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9

    Serum K assessed via blood test Unit: mEq/L

  10. Serum Phosphorus (P)

    Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9

    Serum P assessed via blood test Unit: mg/dL

  11. C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Serum CRP assessed via blood test Unit: mg/L

  12. Albumin

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Serum Albumin assessed via blood test Unit: g/dL

  13. Hemoglobin

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Serum Hemoglobin assessed via blood test Unit: g/dL

  14. Hematocrit

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Serum Hematocrit assessed via blood test Unit: %

  15. Mean Corpusculum Volume (MCV)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Average size of red blood cells assessed via blood test Unit: Femtoliter (fL)

  16. Ferritin

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Serum Ferritin assessed via blood test Unit: ng/mL

  17. Glycated hemoglobin A1C

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) measured via blood test Unit: %

  18. Urinary microalbumin: creatinine ratio (UmACR)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    UmACR assessed via urine test Unit: mg/g creatinine

  19. Urinary potassium excretion

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Urinary potassium excretion (spot) measured via urine test Unit: meq/L

  20. Urinary phosphorus excretion

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Urinary phosphorus excretion (spot) measured via urine test Unit: mg/dL

  21. Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition. A participant is identified as malnourished when at least one phenotypic and one etiologic criterion is met. Phenotypic criteria include unintentional weight loss (>5% within 6 months or >10% beyond 6 months), age-specific low Body Mass Index (< 20 kg/m2 for individuals < 70 years old and < 22 kg/m2 for individuals 70 years and older), and reduced muscle mass assessed using body composition parameters to detect muscle depletion. Etiologic criteria include reduced food intake or assimilation (defined as a reduction in energy intake > 50% of requirements for over one week or any reduction lasting more than 2 weeks) and the presence of acute disease or chronic diseases related inflammation.

    Score: one phenotypic criterion and one etiologic criterion, to diagnose malnutrition

  22. Total Caloric intake per kilogram body weight (Kcal/kg)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total caloric intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total caloric intake (Kcal) will then be divided by the body weight (kg) at the same time point of data collection.

    Unit: Kcal/kg

  23. Total dietary protein intake per kilogram body weight (g/kg)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total dietary protein intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of dietary proteins in grams (g) will then be divided by the dry body weight (kg) at the same time point of data collection.

    Unit: g/kg

  24. Carbohydrate intake percentage (%)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total carbohydrate intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of carbohydrate in grams (g) will then be multiplied by 4 Kcal to get the calories of carbohydrates. Afterwards, it will be divided by the total amount of calories consumed at the same time point of data collection to obtain the percentage of total intake.

    Unit: percentage (%)

  25. Total fat intake percentage (%)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total fat intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of fat in grams (g) will then be multiplied by 9 Kcal to get the calories of fat. Afterwards, it will be divided by the total amount of calories consumed at the same time point of data collection to obtain the percentage of total intake.

    Unit: percentage (%)

  26. Trans fat intake percentage (%)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total trans-fat intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend). The estimated total amount of trans-fat in grams (g) will then be multiplied by 9 Kcal to get the calories of fat. Afterwards, it will be divided by the total amount of calories consumed at the same time point of data collection to obtain the percentage of total intake.

    Unit: percentage (%)

  27. Total potassium intake (g)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total potassium intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend) and reported in grams per day.

    Unit: g/d

  28. Total phosphorus intake (g)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total phosphorus intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend) and reported in grams per day.

    Unit: g/d

  29. Total sodium intake (g)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The total sodium intake will be assessed using a culturally specific quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) crossed-checked with 24-hour recall series (one on a weekday and one on a weekend) and reported in grams per day.

    Unit: g/d

  30. Nutrition focused physical examination (NFPE)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    The nutrition focused physical examination will be conducted by a licensed dietitian who will assess fat and muscle depletion, as well as the presence of edema.

  31. Muscle strength (kg)

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Muscle strength will be measured using a handgrip strength assessment with a calibrated hand dynamometer. Participants will be seated upright with their back supported, feet flat on the floor, and their elbow flexed at a 90-degree angle. The hand dynamometer will be adjusted to fit the participant's hand size who will be instructed to squeeze the dynamometer with maximum effort for 3-5 seconds. Three measurements will be taken for each hand, with a rest period of 30 to 60 seconds and the average of the three measurements will be recorded as the final handgrip strength.

    Unit: kg

  32. Gastrointestinal Symptoms

    Time frame: Baseline, Monthly for 6 months, Month 9

    Gastrointestinal symptoms will be assessed using the Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire (B-IBS-Q), a validated tool for evaluating the frequency, severity, and impact of gastrointestinal symptoms. It is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 11 items designed to assess the frequency of IBS-related symptoms, with each question having a standard response scale. Symptoms are measured based on a 6-point Likert scale (0-5) ranging from all of the time (5) to none (0) and converted to 100, with higher scores indicating more frequent IBS symptoms. The scale has 3 dimensions, including pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

  33. Health-related Quality of Life

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Quality of life will be assessed using the EuroQOL-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L), a widely validated and internationally recognized instrument for measuring health-related quality of life. The tool consists of two components: a descriptive system and a visual analog scale (VAS). The descriptive component includes five dimensions of health: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is rated on a 5-level scale, ranging from no problems to extreme problems. Participants will select the most appropriate level that reflects their current health status for each dimension. The responses are then used to generate a health state profile, which can be converted into a single index score using country-specific value sets. In addition to the descriptive system, participants will rate their overall health status using a visual analog scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health).

  34. Costs

    Time frame: Baseline, Months 3, 6, and 9

    Costs relevant to direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and indirect costs assessed using a resource utilization questionnaire with the patients, and calculated following the identification, measurement, and valuation steps.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Rana Rizk, PhD, MS, MPH, LD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+9611786456 ext. 3741

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Lebanese American University

Other

Collaborators

  • Maastricht University
  • Zayed University

Registry information

Official study title

Plant Dominant Low-protein Diet for Conservative Management of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.