Nutrition in the newborn with renal disease

The role of nutrition is to provide the essential elements necessary for maintenance and growth. This is accomplished through a combination of metabolic adaptations as well as the kidney’s exceptional ability to maintain the body’s internal milieu. Children born with abnormal renal function are at a significant disadvantage at either conserving or excreting a variety of nutrients and as a result, often suffer nutritional debility during their earliest, most vital growth period. This chapter will attempt to outline both the challenges faced and some of the solutions currently available to achieve optimal growth during the first months of life.