Increased Frequency of Nutritional Counseling Improves Weight Status and Lipids in Renal Transplant Recipients

Patients commonly experience excessive weight gain (>10%) within 6 months to 1 year after renal transplant. The aim of this retrospective study of electronic medical records was to examine the association between number of nutritional counseling sessions with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) with weight gain and lipids post-transplant. An analysis of covariance controlling for age and time between pre- and postmeasurements for weight, body mass index (BMI), and lipids was used to compare tertiles. Patients in tertile 1 (1-2 visits with RDN) experienced weight gain while patients in tertile 2 (3 visits) and tertile 3 (4-9 visits) did not gain weight. The change in weight was correlated with the changes in cholesterol (r = 0.23, P = .003) and triglyceride (r = 0.3, P = .0004). There were no differences among tertiles for female patients. Males in tertile 3 lost weight and improved BMI compared with male patients in tertile 1. Four or more visits with an RDN following renal transplantation are beneficial in preventing excessive weight gain. The change in weight was positively associated with blood lipids.