SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is characterized by the involuntary loss of lean body mass associated with a progressive reduction of muscle strength. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in kidney transplant recipients and its association with the determining factors that control muscle homeostasis. METHODS: We evaluated renal transplant recipients undergoing follow-up at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão from June 2017 to July 2018 and who met the inclusion criteria. Sarcopenia was defined according to the European criteria. The skeletal muscle mass index was measured by dual-energy radiological absorptiometry; the values <7,26 kg/m2 for men and <5,5 kg/m2 for women were adopted for muscle depletion. For handgrip strength, values of <30 kg for men and <20 kg for women were considered as reduced muscle strength. In both sexes, the cutoff point for walking speed was <0,8 m/s. RESULTS: We evaluated 83 renal transplant recipients with a mean age of 48.8 ± 12,1 years and predominantly males (57,8%). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 19,3%. Among individuals without sarcopenia, 17,9% had a decrease in handgrip strength and 40,3% has altered gait speed. DISCUSSION: Individuals submitted to renal transplant may develop sarcopenia while still young and already present altered muscle function and strength even before the depletion of lean body mass. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis may allow the prevention of sarcopenia and provide a better quality of life for patients.