Dietary Compliance Among Renal Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Study in Taiwan

Background: Extensive food and lifestyle changes are the major issues in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Poor adherence to diet can contribute to increased health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and graft failure; however, comparative data regarding dietary compliance with the national recommendations has rarely been investigated, especially among RTRs in Taiwan. Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, we compared patients’ reported dietary intake of macronutrients and micronutrients with evidence-based guidelines developed for the nutritional management of adult kidney transplant recipients (NMAKTR)by the Dietitians Association of Australia. A total of 90 maintenance-phase RTRs were recruited from September 2016 to June 2018. All patients completed a 3-day dietary record (2 weekdays and 1 day on the weekend). In addition, routine anthropometric and laboratory data were obtained. Results: The mean age, post-transplant years, and estimated glomerular filtration rate of participants were 49.7 ± 12.5 years, 9.1 ± 6.1 years, and 55.5 ± 20.8 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. Daily energy and protein intakes were 1869.1 ± 383.5 kcal (30.4 ± 7.2 kcal/kg/d)and 66.9 ± 14.4 g (1.1 ±.2 g/kg/d), respectively. The percentage of energy intake from fat and saturated fat exceeded recommendations, whereas dietary fibers and calcium remained less than the recommended levels. At our center, a large percentage of RTRs did not meet NMAKTR dietary recommendations. Conclusion: The low degree of dietary compliance calls for a continued effort to deliver effective nutritional advice in this population.