Immuno-nutrition and sarcopenia in haemodialysis: IMMUNOSH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effect of immuno-nutrition on markers of sarcopenia and systemic inflammation in a haemodialysis population: a feasibility randomised controlled trial.
IRAS ID
350071
Contact name
Daniela Viramontes Hörner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
Low muscle mass, strength and function (i.e., sarcopenia) are common problems in people receiving haemodialysis which lead to poor quality of life and a higher risk of death. Inflammation, caused by the body’s defence (immune) system being activated in response to infection or injury, is another common factor that causes loss of muscle mass and strength/function in people on haemodialysis.
Standard food supplements are not effective at increasing muscle mass and strength/function in people on haemodialysis. This is because inflammation limits protein from food being converted into muscle.
“Immuno-nutrition” is a new form of food supplement that provides calories and protein like other standard supplements but also contains extra nutrients that reduce inflammation. In previous studies, “immuno-nutrition” has been shown to benefit people with cancer, another patient group with high inflammation.
Recently, we showed that “immuno-nutrition” improved muscle strength and decreased inflammation in a small study of 14 people on haemodialysis.
Therefore, the purpose of this research is to test the study methods and procedures, and to collect information that will help us design a larger, definitive study.
Seventy adult participants from the Royal Derby Hospital renal dialysis unit and Lichfield dialysis centre will be randomly assigned (similar to picking names from a hat) to the intervention group (“immuno-nutrition”) or the usual care group (standard food supplement). Both groups will take one supplement daily for 24 weeks.
The following assessments will be made at the start of the study and after 12, 18 and 24 weeks of taking the supplements:
• Muscle strength (handgrip strength)
• Body levels of fat and muscle
• Physical function
• Food intake (food diaries)
• Quality of life
• Blood tests to monitor blood chemistry and inflammationAn improvement in markers of sarcopenia in people receiving haemodialysis with an immuno-nutrition supplement could lead to improved quality of life, reduce hospitalisations and healthcare costs, and prolong survival.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/EM/0133
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion