Can immunonutrients reduce rejection rates in African Americans?
OBJECTIVE
African-American kidney allograft recipients have higher rates of rejection than do white patients. This study was performed to determine whether the use of immunonutrients may reduce the incidence of rejection in African Americans.


METHODS
Two studies have been done at our institution that demonstrate that immunonutrients can reduce the incidence of rejection, calcineurin inhibitor toxicity, and cardiovascular risk factors. The data were analyzed to determine whether or not a preferential benefit exists for race.


RESULTS
Twenty-four African-American patients received supplements and 28 did not. One patient (4.2%) who had received supplements had a rejection episode in the first year compared with 7 patients (25%) who did not receive supplements (P < .011). This compares with our rejection rate of 25% (14/56) for African Americans on other protocols without concurrent immunonutrients (P < .003).


CONCLUSIONS
Immunonutrients appear to have a preferential beneficial response in reducing rejection in African-American patients. A randomized, prospective, clinical trial is warranted to further elucidate these results.
Alexander
J Wesley
JW
Department of Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267- 0585, USA. jwesley.alexander@uc.edu
Goodman
Hope R
HR
Alloway
Rita R
RR
Woodle
E Steve
ES
D001741:Black or African American; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil
D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D001120:Arginine; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid