Higher Protein Intake After Kidney Transplant Improves Graft Function and Metabolism: Study
Researchers have found in a new research that in the early post-transplant phase, greater daily protein intake was associated with better kidney graft function, enhanced lipid metabolism, and higher hemoglobin levels. It was further found that Increased protein consumption independently helped protect graft function following kidney transplantation. The study was published in BMC Nephrology by Bin-QI Yang and fellow researchers.
Nutritional care after the transplant is important in recovery because the administration of immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids can modify metabolism and worsen malnutrition. Proper protein intake is necessary for healing of the surgical wound, repair of tissue, and the stabilization of graft function.
This retrospective observational study enrolled 176 recipients of kidney transplantation who were transplanted at West China Hospital from December 2021 to June 2022. Researchers collected 24-h urine urea nitrogen at 1 and 3 months post-transplant to compute DPI.
According to the KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD, patients were classified into two groups:
High Protein Intake Group (≥1.4 g/kg·day, n = 66)
Low Protein Intake Group (<1.4 g/kg·day, n = 110)
Laboratory parameters and post-transplant complications were recorded during the initial three months. The relationship between protein intake, graft recovery, and renal function was examined with linear regression and multiple regression analyses to adjust for potential confounders.
Results
The research found that estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after three months of post-transplant was found to be much higher in patients who had a higher protein intake.
In particular, the High Protein Intake Group registered an average eGFR of 67.32 mL/min/1.73 m² compared to 58.88 mL/min/1.73 m² for the Low Protein Intake Group (p = 0.044).
More detailed analysis with the multiple regression models also supported the fact that increased protein consumption in the immediate post-transplant period was an important independent protective variable for graft function (p = 0.014).
Better protein consumption is also associated with improved lipid metabolism and increased hemoglobin levels, reflecting better overall nutritional recovery.
These results indicate that keeping a good intake of protein throughout the first few months following transplantation works towards supporting metabolic stability and renal graft well-being.
In this large observational trial, increased daily protein consumption in the early post-transplant period was independently related to improved kidney graft function, lipid metabolism, and hemoglobin levels. These findings favor the implementation of tailored, high-protein nutritional regimens at the time of kidney transplantation with the aim of facilitating graft protection and recovery outcomes.
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