A meta-analysis of the impact of a phosphate-specific diet on serum phosphate levels in people receiving hemodialysis

Background We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the influence of a phosphate-specific intake on serum phosphate levels in hemodialysis subjects. Methods A systematic literature search up to November 2021 was done and 14 studies included 1284 hemodialysis subjects at the start of the study; 671 of them were provided with phosphate-specific intake, and 613 were control. We calculated the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the influence of phosphate-specific intake on serum phosphate levels in hemodialysis subjects by the contentious method with a random or fixed-influence model. Results Phosphate-specific intake had significantly better serum phosphate levels change (MD, -0.66; 95% CI, -0.95- -0.36, p<0.001) with moderate heterogeneity (I² = 71%) compared to control in hemodialysis subjects Conclusions Phosphate-specific intake had significantly lower serum phosphate levels change compared to control in hemodialysis subjects. Further studies are required.