Dietary Intake of Calories and Protein in the Acute Phase Following Kidney Transplant: Opportunities for Improvement
L. Teigen1, G. Onyeaghala1, Y. Doronin2, B. Guo1, B. Wu1, J. Abrahante1, D. Schladt1, W. Guan1, C. Staley1, M. Al-Kofahi1, S. Riad1, A. Matas1, R. Remmel1, W. Oetting1, C. Dorr1, P. Jacobson1, A. Israni1
1University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 909
Keywords: Enteral nutrition, Kidney transplantation, Metabolic complications, Morbidity
Topic: Clinical Science » Kidney » Kidney: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Complications
Session Information
Session Name: Kidney: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Complications
Session Type: Poster Abstract
Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: Nutritional therapy post kidney transplant includes both an acute (1-1.5 months post-transplant) and a chronic phase. To date, most of the available literature has focused on the metabolic derangements (e.g. obesity, diabetes) associated with the chronic phase. Adequate nutrition during the acute phase, however, is essential to support an increased metabolic demand following surgery and to begin correction of altered body composition (e.g. sarcopenia) associated with end stage renal disease, which is important for long-term metabolic health. Currently, recommendations support calorie intakes of up to 35 kcal/kg/d and protein intakes of up to 1.5 g/kg/d, but little is known about dietary intake during the acute post transplantation phase.
*Methods: In the Microbiome and Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplantation (MISSION) study, we collected baseline 48 hours food recalls up to 20 days after kidney transplantation for 7 participants, using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR). Descriptive tables and figures were generated using SAS version 9.4.
*Results: Demographic characteristics, calorie, and protein intake of the study cohort are presented in Table 1. Calorie and protein intake collected during the 3 weeks post-transplant correlated positively (r=0.84). Calorie intake ranged from 20 kcal/kg/d to 34 kcal/kg/d and protein intake ranged from 0.7 g/kg/d to 1.5 g/kg/d. Only 1/7 (14%) kidney transplant recipients achieved a calorie intake of ~35 kcal/kg/d. Similarly, only 1/7 (14%) patients achieved a protein intake of 1.5 g/kg/d. Notably, 4/7 (57%) patients had protein intakes less than 1.0 g/kg/d.
*Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest an opportunity to optimize nutritional intake in the acute period following kidney transplantation. Given the negative impact of end stage renal disease on body composition, it is important to ensure adequate nutritional intake begins in the acute post-transplantation phase to help support both recovery from surgery and prevention of long-term metabolic complications.
| Variable | |
| Body Mass Index (BMI; kg/m2); Median (Min, Max) | 27.3 (23.3, 27.8) |
| Sex (Female:Male) | 3:4 |
| Donor Type (Living:Deceased) | 4:3 |
| Calorie Intake (kcal/kg/d); Median (Min, Max) | 22.4 (19.8, 34.3) |
| Protein Intake (g/kg/d); Median (Min, Max) | 0.8 (0.7, 1.5) |
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Teigen L, Onyeaghala G, Doronin Y, Guo B, Wu B, Abrahante J, Schladt D, Guan W, Staley C, Al-Kofahi M, Riad S, Matas A, Remmel R, Oetting W, Dorr C, Jacobson P, Israni A. Dietary Intake of Calories and Protein in the Acute Phase Following Kidney Transplant: Opportunities for Improvement [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/dietary-intake-of-calories-and-protein-in-the-acute-phase-following-kidney-transplant-opportunities-for-improvement/. Accessed May 16, 2025.« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress