Egg white diet and phosphorus control in dialysis patients
What it found
In 150 dialysis patients, eating egg whites as a meat substitute for 8 weeks lowered blood phosphorus and cholesterol and raised blood albumin compared with a usual diet.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood phosphorus
After 8 weeks, blood phosphorus was lower in the egg white group than in the control group. It was also lower than the egg white group's own starting level.
Blood cholesterol
After 8 weeks, blood cholesterol was lower in the egg white group than in the control group. It was also lower than the egg white group's own starting level.
Blood albumin
After 8 weeks, blood albumin was higher in the egg white group than in the control group.
PTH levels
PTH levels in the egg white group were lower after 8 weeks than at the start.
Starting values
At the start, the two groups had no significant differences in the laboratory measures.
What the authors conclude
“The results showed that the egg white could be a useful source of protein for dialysis patients, as it simultaneously reduces serum phosphorus and cholesterol, and increases serum albumin.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that egg white could be a useful source of protein for dialysis patients.
- They say it at the same time reduces serum phosphorus and cholesterol and increases serum albumin.
How it was done
High blood phosphorus and poor nutrition are two important risk factors linked to death in dialysis patients, and the authors wanted to see if egg white could help with both.
They ran an open-label trial at dialysis centers in Kerman with 150 hemodialysis patients aged 18 or older whose blood phosphorus was at least 5.5 mg/dl. Everyone limited phosphorus-containing foods for 4 weeks, then half continued their usual diet while the other half ate a Telavang egg white pack (six egg whites, 96 calories, 24 g protein) instead of meat 3 days a week for 8 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was an open-label trial, so participants and staff knew who was in which group.
- The results apply to dialysis patients with high blood phosphorus, not to everyone.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- The effect of egg white diet on phosphorus control in dialysis patients
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Azmandian J, Shamspour N, Alinaghi Langari T, et al (2022). The effect of egg white diet on phosphorus control in dialysis patients. Hemodialysis international. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis. doi:10.1111/hdi.13028PubMed 35711102DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error