Can immunonutrients reduce rejection rates in African Americans?

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.

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.

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).

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.