Benefits of a dietary intervention on weight loss, body composition, and lipid profile after renal transplantation

The nutritional status of a group of 23 renal transplanted patients with a body mass index >27, hyperlipidemia, and stable renal function were studied before and after 6 mo of dietary intervention with the American Heart Asso ciation (AHA) Step One pattern. The dietary records showed that the intake of total fat decreased from 42.2 +/- 5.5 to 33.0 +/- 4.2% (P < 0.001) and t he intake of saturated fat decreased from 12.8 +/- 1.8 to 9.2 +/- 3.1% (P < 0.01) of total calories. The cholesterol intake fell from 352 +/- 10 to 22 1 +/- 12 mg/d. The mean weight loss was 3.2 +/- 2.9 kg (P < 0.001), followe d by a significant decrease in mean body fat mass (%) measured by triceps s kinfold (34.2 +/- 3.3 versus 32.9 +/- 3.7; P < 0.05), bioelectrical impedan ce (30.8 +/- 5.7 versus 26.5 +/- 5.9; P < 0.001), and infrared interactance (37.5 +/- 6.3 versus 34.7 +/- 5.5; P < 0.01). After the dietary interventi on lipid profile improved in all patients, with a decrease in the mean tota l cholesterol (237 +/- 32 versus 224 +/- 36 mg/dL; P < 0.05), which was hig her in males. Also, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was reduced in male patients (156 +/- 19 versus 136 +/- 11 mg/dL, P < 0.05), whereas in female s low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained unaltered. The high-d ensity lipoprotein cholesterol and triacylglycerol values were not affected in both males and females by the dietary treatment. The reduction in serum cholesterol was inversely correlated with the initial values of triceps sk infold (r = 0.52, P < 0.01) and was lower in patients with a body mass inde x > 30 (5.7 versus 2.8%; NS). It is concluded that the obesity and hyperlip idemia following renal transplantation may be improved by dietary intervent ion and subsequent weight loss. Nutrition 1999;15:7-10. (C) Elsevier Scienc e Inc. 1999.