A new study indicates that
following the Mediterranean diet may help kidney transplant recipients maintain
transplant kidney function. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN.
Despite
improvements in the survival of transplanted kidneys in the early years after
transplantation, loss of kidney function within 10 years still occurs in more
than one-third of recipients. António Gomes-Neto, MD (University of Groningen,
in the Netherlands) and his colleagues investigated whether adhering to the
Mediterranean diet–which focuses on high intake of fish, fruit, vegetables,
legumes, nuts, and olive oil together with lower intake of dairy and meat
products–might help protect transplant recipients’ kidney health.
For the study,
632 adult kidney transplant recipients with a functioning donor kidney for at
least one year completed a food-related questionnaire, and adherence to the
Mediterranean diet was assessed using a 9-point score.
During an
average follow-up of 5.2 years, 119 recipients experienced kidney function
decline (76 of whom developed kidney failure). The Mediterranean Diet Score was
inversely associated with kidney function decline and kidney failure. Each
2-point higher score was associated with a 29% lower risk of kidney function
decline and a 32% lower risk of kidney failure.
“Increasing
scientific evidence has demonstrated health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
on cardiovascular and kidney health. In this study, we show that kidney
transplant recipients with higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet are less
likely to experience function loss of their kidney transplant,” said Dr.
Gomes-Neto.
Journal article: https://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/early/2020/01/01/CJN.06710619
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