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Arla Foods Ingredients has released two new beverage prototypes that could deliver health benefits for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The two solutions – a ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage with 7% protein and a shot format with 21% protein – both contain the company's Lacprodan BLG-100 protein ingredient, a purified beta-lactoglobulin. In addition to containing 7% protein, the RTD also features 10% fat and 20% carbohydrates, and is aimed at people with stage 1-5 CKD who are not in dialysis. Meanwhile, the high-protein shot solution has been specifically formulated for the dietary management of people living with CKD who are in dialysis. Mads Dyrvig, head of health and performance sales development, said: “While minerals are essential to life, too much is a serious issue if your body has a reduced capacity to excrete it. The nutritional challenge for someone with CKD is that many of the foods we eat, such as meat and dairy, are rich in phosphorous. People diagnosed with CKD are advised to reduce dietary protein intake significantly." "The dilemma is that for a CKD patient, phosphorus accumulation in the body increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes and may lead to cardiovascular disease, whereas the alternative is reducing protein intake and gradually losing significant muscle mass (muscle atrophy). Both conditions increase mortality risk while muscle atrophy also decreases the quality of life for patients." He continued: “The majority of commercially available oral nutritional supplements (ONS) contain a relatively high mineral content, including phosphorous. Arla Foods Ingredients can close this gap in the market with Lacprodan BLG-100, which is low in minerals, has an excellent nutritional profile and offers great benefits in terms of muscle preservation." "Our 100% pure BLG ingredient is rich in essential amino acids and leucine, so it contains high-quality proteins, which meet the nutritional needs of CKD and ESRD patients. It is also extremely low in phosphorous and hence is a great solution for medical nutrition products because it enables the supplementation of protein without compromising requirements for a low mineral intake.”