The role of diet and physical activity in post-transplant weight gain after renal transplantation

Abstract

Background: Long-term survival of renal transplant recipients (RTR) has not improved over the past 20 yr. The question rises to what extent lifestyle factors play a role in post-transplant weight gain and its associated risks after transplantation.

Methods: Twenty-six RTR were measured for body weight, body composition, blood lipids, renal function, dietary intake, and physical activity at six wk, and three, six, and 12 months after transplantation.

Results: Weight gain ranged between -2.4 kg and 19.5 kg and was largely due to increase in body fat. RTR who remained body fat stable, showed more daily physical activity (p = 0.014), tended to consume less energy from drinks and dairy (p = 0.054), consumed less mono- and disaccharides (sugars) (p = 0.021) and ate more vegetables (p = 0.043) compared with those who gained body fat. Gain in body fat was strongly related to total cholesterol (r = 0.46, p = 0.017) and triglyceride (r = 0.511, p = 0.011) at one yr after transplantation.

Conclusions: Gain in adiposity after renal transplantation is related to lifestyle factors such as high consumption of energy-rich drinks, high intake of mono- and disaccharides and low daily physical activity. RCTs are needed to investigate potential benefits of lifestyle intervention on long-term morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: hyperlipidemia; lifestyle; obesity; overweight; renal transplant recipients; sodium intake.