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Abstract: PO2507

A Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle in Patients Early Post Kidney Transplantation

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 1902 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

  • Tsujita, Makoto, Masuko Kinen Byoin, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
  • Obi, Yoshitsugu, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
  • Hamano, Takayuki, Nagoya Shiritsu Daigaku Daigakuin Igaku Kenkyuka Igakubu, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Background

Developing strategies for managing skeletal muscle weakness and loss in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is an important clinical challenge. Little is known about the effect of native vitamin D (VitD) supplementation on skeletal muscle in KTRs.

Methods

We conducted a 11-month, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to assess the efficacy of VitD for improving skeletal muscle weakness and loss in KTRs receiving kidney transplantation within one month. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to a Vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 4000 IU / day) group or a placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. A prespecified secondary endpoints in this study included a percent (%) change in handgrip strength (HGS), and leg strength (LS) for skeletal muscle strength, and skeletal muscle index (SMI) for skeletal muscle mass.

Results

A total of 193 KTRs were randomized, but 6 KTRs were lost before taking the medication. We analyzed 92 KTRs in Vitamin D group and 95 in Placebo group. Dropouts during this study were 3 KTRs in Vitamin D group and 2 in Placebo group. In Vitamin D group, at baseline the mean age was 52.3 ± 12.5 years old and the number of males was 28 (30.4%), and in Placebo group, 51.7 ± 11.4 years old and 30 (31.5%), respectively. The mean changes in serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels from baseline to the end of this study were 11.2 ± 4.1 to 39.8 ± 13.0 ng/mL in Vitamin D group (p < 0.001)and 11.2 ± 4.1 to 14.5 ± 5.0 ng/mL in Placebo group (p < 0.001). In this study, there were no difference in % changes in HGS, LS, or SMI between those groups, respectively.

Conclusion

VitD supplementation alone appears not to be effective in improving skeletal muscle weakness and loss among KTRs early post-transplantation. Larger-scale trials are warranted to confirm these findings.