Oral Nutritional Supplement on Nutritional and Functional Status, and Biomarkers in Malnourished Hemodialysis Patients.

Malnutrition in hemodialysis patients is frequent and it is associated with a reduction in muscular mass, strength, functional capacity and quality of life, with an increment in inflammatory and oxidative markers, and with a dysregulation of circulating miRNAs and its target genes. Animal and human studies have reported that some dietary components (macronutrients, micronutrients and other bioactive substances) might restore these altered features. Thus, we hypothesized that the intake of an oral nutritional supplement (ONS) specifically developed for malnourished hemodialysis patients enriched with functional nutrients (extra virgin olive oil, omega 3 fatty acids, whey protein, antioxidants, carnitine, and with or without probiotics) vs. individualized diet recommendations might: * Improve nutritional status (visceral proteins, muscular mass), functional capacity and quality of life. * Reduce inflammatory and oxidative markers, and modulate the circulating levels of some miRNAs and the expression of its target genes on cells. miRNAs may be useful biomarkers to check the response to a nutritional intervention in malnourished hemodialysis patients. The present study is a randomized, multicenter, parallel-group trial with 3 groups, open to the intake of ONS or individualized diet recommendations, but double-blind to the intake of probiotics. Inclusion criteria comprised adult subjects (\>18 y/o) undergoing hemodialysis more than 6 months previous at inclusion and at least one of these caloric malnutrition criteria: a) involuntary weight loss \>5% in 3 months or \>10% in 6 months; b) serum albumin \5% in 3 months or \>10% in 6 months. The study duration is 6 months, and comprises 4 visits (screening, basal, 3 months and 6 months). A nutritional examination that included anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength measured by a hand dynamometer, body composition as