Liver Transplant

Diet and nutrition after your liver transplant

After your liver transplant, you may need to adjust your diet to keep your liver healthy and functioning well and to prevent excessive weight gain. You should maintain a healthy weight, which can help prevent infections, high blood pressure and other complications. Your nutrition specialist (dietitian) and other members of your treatment team will work with you to create a healthy-eating plan that meets your needs and complements your lifestyle.

Your dietitian will provide you with several healthy-food options and ideas to use in your eating plan. Your dietitian's recommendations may include:

Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day
Eating lean meats, poultry and fish
Eating whole-grain breads and cereals and other grains
Having enough fiber in your daily diet
Drinking low-fat milk or eating other low-fat dairy products, to help maintain enough calcium
Maintaining a low-salt and low-fat diet
Following food safety guidelines
Avoiding alcohol
Staying hydrated by drinking adequate water and other fluids each day
Avoiding grapefruit and grapefruit juice due to its effect on a group of immunosuppression medications (calcineurin inhibitors)

Contact Us with Questions

Mayo Clinic transplant staff can answer your questions about the transplant process and post-transplant life.

New Medication Options and Costs

Learn about new medications that may help you stay healthy and avoid common transplant-related problems.