Nutrition of the kidney transplant recipients

The outcome of kidney transplantation can be influenced by the nutritional status of the patient. Malnutrition, obesity and other metabolic complications can be prevented or corrected with correct nutritional interventions. There are currently few randomized clinical trials of nutrition interventions after kidney transplantation. However nutritional guidelines have been developed in order to optimize the nutritional status of patients with chronic kidney disease at all stages and for the nutritional management of kidney transplant recipients. The present chapter summarizes the key recommendations of the available evidence-based guidelines. The recommended nutritional intakes in adult and pediatric transplanted patients are reported in tables 1 and 3. The nutritional suggestions to prevent or to manage metabolic-related complications are summarized in table 2. Large multicenter trials are underway to assess the effect of nutritional interventions in kidney transplant recipients and to provide data for a structured dietetic and multidisciplinary approach to nutritional post-transplant care.