title: The short-term effects of a low-protein diet in stable renal transplant recipients.
abstract: The short-term effects of a low-protein diet were assessed in eight stable renal transplant recipients on maintenance immunosuppression 38 +/- 7 months following transplantation. Two-week baseline protein and caloric intakes derived from daily food records were 0.97 +/- 0.08 g/kg.d and 25.3 +/- 1.6 kcal/kg.d. A diet containing 0.6 g protein/kg.d and greater than or equal to 30 kcal/kg.d was then prescribed. Nitrogen balance was assessed for 3 weeks and final measurements were taken at 4 weeks. Body weight decreased from 76.4 +/- 3.8 to 74.8 +/- 3.5 kg (P = 0.028). Baseline inulin clearance was 40.9 +/- 6.2 mL/min.1.73 m2 and did not change following the dietary modification. There were no significant changes in plasma proteins, lipids, or in white blood cell counts. During the low-protein diet, mean protein intake was 0.62 +/- 0.02 g/kg.d (P less than 0.001 v baseline) and the mean caloric intake decreased to 20.8 +/- 1.2 kcal/kg.d (P = 0.036 v baseline). Mean baseline nitrogen balance was -62.8 +/- 81.4 mmol/d (-0.88 +/- 1.14 g/d) and remained negative, -113.5 +/- 35.7 mmol/d (-1.59 +/- 0.50 g/d), after 3 weeks of the protein-restricted diet. A positive correlation between caloric intake and nitrogen balance combining all periods was seen (r = 0.61, P less than 0.01, n = 32) with predicted neutral nitrogen balance occurring at a caloric intake of 28 kcal/kg.d. There was also a weak correlation (r = 0.42, P less than 0.05, n = 32) between protein intake and nitrogen balance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Windus
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Delmez
mesh_terms: D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen