Nutritional status of renal transplant patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effect of renal transplantation on the nutritional status of patients.

DESIGN:

Prospective descriptive study.

SETTING:

Renal Transplant Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape.

SUBJECTS:

Fifty-eight renal transplant patients from Tygerberg Hospital were enrolled in the study. The sample was divided into two groups of 29 patients each: group 1, less than 28 months post-transplant; and group 2, more than 28 months post-transplant.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

Nutritional status assessment comprised biochemical evaluation, a dietary history, anthropometric measurements and a clinical examination.

RESULTS:

Serum vitamin B6 levels were below normal in 56% of patients from group 1 and 59% from group 2. Vitamin B6 intake, however, was insufficient in only 14% of patients from group 1 and 10% from group 2. Serum vitamin C levels were below normal in 7% of patients from group 1 and 24% from group 2, while vitamin C intake was insufficient in 21% and 14% of patients from groups 1 and 2 respectively. Serum magnesium levels were below normal in 55% of patients from group 1, and in 28% from group 2. Serum albumin and cholesterol levels increased significantly during the post-transplant period in the total sample (P = 0.0001). There was also a significant increase in body mass index (P = 0.0001) during the post-transplant period.

CONCLUSIONS:

Several nutritional abnormalities were observed, which primarily reflect the side-effects of immunosuppressive therapy. The causes, consequences and treatment of the vitamin B6 and vitamin C deficiencies in renal transplant recipients need further investigation.

• Authors: A S du Plessis, H Randall, E Escreet, M Höll, M Conradie, M R Moosa, D Labadarios, M G Herselman
• Journal: South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde (S Afr Med J) Vol. 92 Issue 1 Pg. 68-74 (Jan 2002) ISSN: 0256-9574 [Print] South Africa
• PMID: 11936022 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Chemical Analysis
• Body Mass Index
• Diet
• Female
• Humans
• Kidney Transplantation (adverse effects, physiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nutrition Disorders (blood, etiology, physiopathology)
• Nutritional Status (physiology)
• Pilot Projects
• Prospective Studies
• Time Factors