Information For Physicians

Click below to view 4 short videos presented by Dr. Elizabeth Sussman PhD RD, Associate Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics specializing in renal nutrition and research, reviewing clinical data on the use of low protein diets supplemented with keto-analogues as a tool to slow the progression of CKD and maintain nutrition.

Nutritional management of CKD
Low protein diet and CKD progression
Low protein diet in specific patient types
Initiating a Low Protein Diet with Ketorena

  • 90 doses per canister. 2.1g of Keto & Amino Acids per dose.
  • Guideline supported targeted nutrition to slow CKD.
  • To be used in conjunction with a low or very low protein diet.
  • May be a tax deductible medical expense.
  • Capsuled in veggie caps.
  • Made in the USA in an FDA inspected facility.


Low and very low protein diets supplemented with keto-analogues.

The use of a low protein diet or a very low protein diet supplemented with a keto-analogue is KDOQI guideline supported and widely used for managing CKD in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. Keto-analogue use has been limited in the United States because of its lack of availability.

The use of a low protein diet or a very low protein diet supplemented with a keto-analogue has been shown to reduce CKD progression, slow the onset of uremic symptoms, and improve nutritional parameters and markers. Please see the section below titled: "Recent clinical Data on the use of keto-analogues with LPD/VLPD" for clinical references and further information.

Keto-analogues of essential amino acids provide potential advantages for CKD patients. The Keto-acids in a keto-analogue lack the amino group bound to the alpha carbon of an amino acid so they can be converted to their respective essential amino acids without providing additional nitrogen.

 The use of a low or very low protein diet reduces the nitrogen load on the kidney as well as reducing known uremic toxins found in animal protein. The diet is the tool that may slow the progression of CKD. The keto-analogue fills in the nutritional gaps found in low and especially very low protein diets with a reduced nitrogen and uremic toxin load versus that found in animal protein or non-keto amino acid supplementation.


About Ketorena

Ketorena is a keto-analogue of essential amino acids used in combination with a low or very low protein renal diet. The combination of the diet and the keto-analogue is designed to slow the progression of CKD and improve nutrition without kidney toxic nitrogenous waste.

Each dose of Ketorena contains 2100 mg or 2.1g of Keto & Amino Acids.

A low or very low protein diet is low in the essential amino acids found in animal protein. Ketorena offer the missing amino acids in keto and non-keto form to fill in the gaps.

 Ketorena and keto-analogues have no relation to ketogenic high fat, low carbohydrate weight loss diets.


The 2020 KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline For Nutrition in CKD. Guideline 3 Protein and Energy Intake.


Protein Restriction, CKD patients not on dialysis and without diabetes
  • In adults with CKD 3-5 who are metabolically stable, we recommend under close clinical supervision, protein restriction with or without keto acid analogues, to reduce the risk of end stage kidney disease (ESKD)/death (1A) and improve quality of life (QoL)

  • A low protein diet providing 0.55-0.60g dietary protein/Kg body weight/day or

  • A very low protein diet providing 0.28-0.43g dietary protein/Kg/body weight/day with additional keto acid/amino acid analogues to meet protein requirements )0.55-0.60 g/Kg/body weight/day.


    • Low protein diet or very low protein diet supplemented with a keto-analogue
  • Low protein diet (LPD) or very low protein diet + keto-analogue (VLPD + KA) are both considerations

  • Protein restriction plus KA supplementation (page S45): For adults with CKD without diabetes, not receiving dialysis, with an eGFR <20 ml/min/1.73m2, a VLPD providing 0.28-0.43 g protein/Kg BW day with the addition of KAs to meet protein requirements may be recommended.

  • A VLPD supplemented with KAs could help preserve kidney function in patients with CKD 3-5 (Page S46)


    • Considerations of metabolically stable
    In the context of these recommendations, metabolically stable indicates:
  • The absence of any active inflammatory or infectious disease.
  • No hospitalization within 2 weeks.
  • Absence of poorly controlled diabetes and consumptive disease such as cancer.


    • Find the full guideline here:     KDIGO 2020 Nutrition in CKD guideline

    Renal Dietitian Resources for Patients

    A list of Renal Dietitians trained in counseling patients on low and very low protein diets is available on the patient page of this site.

    Counseling is offered as both individual sessions or as online group programs.

    Ketorena Dosing

    The starting dose of Ketorena is 1 scoop or 3 tablets 3 times daily when initiating a very low protein diet. Maintenance dosing for Ketorena is individualized based on the level of protein restriction and patient body weight.

    Please review the dosing and treatment protocol below from the IKABM. The dosing recommendations are to initiate a keto-analogue at 0.1g/kg BW/day.

    A patient weighing 60kg would then take 0.1g x 60 = 6g or 6000mg. 1 scoop of Ketorena = 2100mg or 2.1g. 3 scoops = 6300mg or 6.3g. The dose would then be 1 scoop or 3 tablets 3 times daily.


    Patient types who may benefit from a low or very low protein diet supplemented with Ketorena:

    • CKD patients with advanced disease who wish to delay dialysis.
    • All CKD 4-5 patients.
    • CKD 3 patients with a progressive decline in GFR.
    • Patients with nephrotic syndrome who are being considered for a low protein diet.
    • Post kidney transplant patients with CKD 3-5 or those with proteinuria.
    • Dialysis patients (PD or incremental HD) with residual renal function.

    The following beneficial effects may be found with a keto-analogue supplemented protein restricted diet:

    • Slow the progression of CKD
    • Improve mortality versus similar patients initiating dialysis.
    • Delay the time until dialysis is required to treat uremic symptoms.
    • Decrease levels of uremic toxins
    • Reduce proteinuria
    • Prevent malnutrition
    • Improve calcium-phosphate metabolism/hyperparathyroidism

    Recent clinical data on the use of keto-analogues with an LPD/VLPD

    Click on link to access.

    Ketoanalogues supplementation decreases dialysis and mortality risk in patients with anemic advanced chronic kidney disease. (Wu, Che-Hsiung et al. PLOS ONE May 5 2017)

    Effect of restricted protein diet supplemented with keto analogues in chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta analysis. (Jiang, Zheng et al. Int Urol Nephrol 2016)

    Adherence to ketoacids/essential amino acids-supplemented low protein diets and new indications for patients with chronic kidney disease (Fouque et al. BMC Nephrology 2016)

    Keto Supplemented Low Protein Diet: A valid therapeutic approach for patients with steroid-resitant proteinuria during early-stage chronic kidney disease. (Zhang, J et al. J Nutr Health Aging 2016)

    Very low protein diet plus ketoacids in chronic kidney disease and risk of death during end stage renal disease: a historical cohort controlled study. (Bellizzi, V et al. NDT (2015)30:71-77)

    Nephrologist perspectives on the use of keto-analogues in CKD

    Click on link to access.

    Is there a role for Ketoacid Supplements in the Management of CKD? (A. Shah MD; et al: AJKD, Vol 65, May 2015)

    Patient resources for finding renal dietitians specializing in low protein CKD diets.

    Nephcentric has partnered with several Renal RDs specializing in counseling patients on low and very low protein diets. A list of these RDs and how patients can contact them can be found on the CKD Patients page of this site.

    Converting to Ketorena from tableted keto-analogues.


    A single dose of Ketorena (3 capsules) contains 2100 mg or 2.1g of keto/amino acids. Most, but not all tableted keto-analogues contain 600mg of keto/amino acids per tablet.

    Ketorena can be taken 2-3 times per day depending on the converted dose.

    A typical dose conversion may look like: 600mg tablets x 10 per day = 6000mg or 6g total daily dose

    One dose of Ketorena = 2100 mg or 2.1g x 3 = 6300mg or 6.3g total daily dose or 1 dose of 3 capsules 3 times per day.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: How do patients access Ketorena?

    A: Currently Ketorena is available to purchase directly from Nephcentric on this site or by calling 1-844-980-9933. A 90 serving canister of Ketorena costs $149.50. We offer a $17.50 discount when purchasing 2 or more canisters at once. This brings the cost down to $132.00 per canister. While this is expensive, other foreign sourced keto-analogues cost between $250-$450 per month.

    Q: How does Ketorena work?

    A: Keto-analogues of essential amino acids provide potential advantages for CKD patients. Keto-acids lack the amino group bound to the alpha carbon of an amino acid so they can be converted to their respective essential amino acids without providing additional nitrogen. This offers protein with less kidney damaging metabolites.

    Q: How much water or juice is mixed with a single dose or Ketorena?

    A: A single dose of Ketorena easily mixes into solution with as little as 3-4 ounces of water or juice. Ketorena is available in natural vanilla flavor.

    Q: How is Ketorena packaged?

    A: Ketorena is packaged as a drink mix powder with 90 doses in a canister. Other keto-analogues are in tablet form and often have pill burdens of 12-24 tablets per day for a 70kg adult. Ketorena is designed to reduce pill count. A single dose of Ketorena easily mixes with 3 ounces of water or juice.

    Q: What is a Medical Food?

    A: Unlike supplement,s a medical food, as defined in section 5(b)(3) of the Orphan Drug Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee(b)(3)), is “a food which is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the supervision of a physician and which is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation.” Medical Foods, including Ketorena can be purchased OTC without a prescription. Ketorena is made in the USA in an FDA inspected facility under cGMP guidelines.

    Q: How does the FDA classify Ketorena?

    A: The FDA classifies Ketorena as GRAS or Generally Recognized As Safe. This is a designation that ingredients added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) food additive tolerance requirements.