Nutritional Assessment and Support of Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kidney transplant has become a viable option for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The number of kidney transplants has steadily increased during the past 50 years. Advances in surgical technique and immunosuppressive drugs have led to significant improvements in survival rates. Many chronic diseases that lead to ESRD negatively affect nutritional status. To minimize nutritional depletion and optimize nutritional status, a complete and thorough evaluation by a registered dietitian should be performed. The posttransplant nutritional goal is to provide adequate nutrition to promote wound healing and anabolism, to prevent infection, and to minimize side effects of medications. Providing adequate nutrition and reducing the long-term side effects are essential for graft survival in kidney transplant recipients