Korean J Nutr.  2003 Jul;36(6):577-588.

Effects of Nutritional Supplementation on Nutirtional Status in Patients with Nonalcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

• Ahn SH
• Kim OY
• Lee JH
• Kim JY
• Han KH

Abstract

Severe protein-calorie malnutrition, common in patients with advanced liver disease, can seriously undermine the capacity for regeneration and functional restoration of liver. Nutritional supplementation for these patients can improve biochemical and hormonal abnormalities. However, these effects were not identified in patient with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. To determine effects of nutritional supplementation in patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, 77 subjects aged 29 to 69 years participated in this study for 12 weeks and were subdivided into three groups; normal diet group (Control group, n=16), branched-chain amino acid supplementation group (BCAA group, n=31), nutritional supplementation group (NS group, n=30). Anthropometric parameters, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood cell counts, serum levels of lipids, vitamins, minerals and fatty acid composition, and plasma amino acids were examined. The mean values of age and height, and the initial values of weight and body mass index (BMI) were not different among all groups. After 12 weeks, there were no significant changes in these values in Control group. Only NS group showed significant increases in weight, lean body mass, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness. Serum transferrins were increased both in BCAA and NS groups. Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids, urea amino acids and glutamic acid were also significantly increased in these groups, but plasma levels of ammonia, serum LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index were decreased. However, there were no significant changes in serum levels of vitamin and mineral and composition of fatty acids in phospholipids in these groups. These results showed that the nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis can more improve nutritional status in these people together with increases of weight, body fat and lean body mass, compared to only BCAA supplementation. To ascertain and investigate the appropriate nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, further studies are necessary.

Keyword

nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis; nutritional supplementation; lean body mass; branched-chain amino acids; imporved nutritional status

MeSH Terms

Amino Acids
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
Ammonia
Blood Cell Count
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Cholesterol, LDL
Diet
Fatty Acids
Glutamic Acid
Hematocrit
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis*
Liver Diseases
Liver*
Minerals
Nutritional Status
Phospholipids
Plasma
Protein-Energy Malnutrition
Regeneration
Skinfold Thickness
Transferrin
Transferrins
Urea
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
Ammonia
Cholesterol, LDL
Fatty Acids
Glutamic Acid
Minerals
Phospholipids
Transferrin
Transferrins
Urea
Vitamins