Nutrition Evaluation and Counseling for Potential Living Kidney Donors: An Opportunity for Lifelong Change

In this review, we discuss the importance of nutrition evaluation and counseling for living kidney donor candidates (LKDCs) and the roles of the dietitian and transplant physician.

In the past decades, living kidney donors are becoming older and have higher rates of obesity and glucose intolerance. Like all adult populations, living kidney donors are at risk for developing diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and kidney disease post-donation, and risks may rise as these chronic diseases rise in the general population. Further, implications may be more serious for individuals living with one kidney. However, involvement of the dietitian in the evaluation of LKDCs may vary across transplant centers. Current US policies do not absolutely require a Registered (Transplant) Dietitian to be involved in the care of LKDCs during the various phases of donation.

Dietitians should be involved in the evaluation of all LKDCs. Individualized lifestyle-focused, sustainable nutrition counseling should be provided to all LKDCs. Transplant clinicians should engage in nutrition counseling of LKDCs as this can increase the impact of the intervention. Nutrition evaluation and counseling can lead to life-long change for the LKDC.